In November 2017, during an annual event in Beijing, British physicist Stephen Hawking made a disturbing statement about the future of the planet. During the video conference, Hawking warned that if humanity does not take drastic action, the Earth could become uninhabitable by the year 2600. The world’s growing population and excessive energy consumption are some of the reasons behind Hawking’s statement.

These reasons will turn the planet into a “ball of fire,” according to Hawking. Moreover, the scientist pointed out that the planet's population doubles every forty years, a tremendous growth that the Earth will not be able to sustain in the long run.

The earth could become a ball of fire.

The scientist stressed that population growth and uncontrolled consumption of resources are interconnected problems that, if not resolved, could lead to the environmental and social collapse of the planet.

Thus, Hawking stated that to ensure the survival of the human race, it is necessary to explore new horizons, similar to the Star Trek series. He suggested that humanity must develop technologies capable of interstellar travel and colonization on other planets.

Need for immediate action

For Hawking, if we do not become a multi-planetary species in the next few centuries, total extinction is a real threat. And the physicist's predictions are not limited to the dangers of overpopulation and energy consumption. In a BBC documentary, Hawking warns of the imminent danger of global warming.

Furthermore, the physicist warns that human ambition may make it difficult to manage global warming effectively, suggesting that the best solution is to abandon the Earth if we cannot control this problem.

Strategies to avoid human extinction

To mitigate the risks, Hawking believes it is necessary to adopt strategies that make humanity more resilient. Analyzing historical and geological records, building sophisticated climate models, and studying natural precedents are some of the recommended approaches to understanding and predicting potential disasters.

Finally, practices such as dam building and draining swamps, which have been practiced for generations in Denmark, are examples of how preventive measures can protect humanity from impending disasters.