Difference between revisions of "Survival of our species/Risks to humanity"
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Potential threats to humanity: | Potential threats to humanity: | ||
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*'''Genetically engineered biological weapon or lab-experiment''' let loose (accidentally or maliciously). Possible at any time. | *'''Genetically engineered biological weapon or lab-experiment''' let loose (accidentally or maliciously). Possible at any time. | ||
*'''Out of control self-replicating molecular nanotechnology''' (accidental or malicious). Underlying technology is perhaps 15 years away. | *'''Out of control self-replicating molecular nanotechnology''' (accidental or malicious). Underlying technology is perhaps 15 years away. | ||
*'''Out of control artificial intelligence'''. Underlying technology is perhaps 20 years away. | *'''Out of control artificial intelligence'''. Underlying technology is perhaps 20 years away. | ||
| + | *'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_event Strike by asteroid or comet]'''. Possible at any time. Accepted in scientific community as not an 'if' but a 'when'. | ||
*'''Global war with nuclear or other advanced weaponry'''. Possible at any time. | *'''Global war with nuclear or other advanced weaponry'''. Possible at any time. | ||
*'''Increasingly powerful particle accelerators'''. Some physicist think we have already created phenomena similar to black holes [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4357613.stm], although theorists believe these pose no risk as they evaporate extremely quickly. Although the very reason people are doing these experiments is because we do not precisely know how nature behaves at these extremely high energies. Possible at any time. | *'''Increasingly powerful particle accelerators'''. Some physicist think we have already created phenomena similar to black holes [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4357613.stm], although theorists believe these pose no risk as they evaporate extremely quickly. Although the very reason people are doing these experiments is because we do not precisely know how nature behaves at these extremely high energies. Possible at any time. | ||
Revision as of 11:28, 29 January 2007
Potential threats to humanity:
- Genetically engineered biological weapon or lab-experiment let loose (accidentally or maliciously). Possible at any time.
- Out of control self-replicating molecular nanotechnology (accidental or malicious). Underlying technology is perhaps 15 years away.
- Out of control artificial intelligence. Underlying technology is perhaps 20 years away.
- Strike by asteroid or comet. Possible at any time. Accepted in scientific community as not an 'if' but a 'when'.
- Global war with nuclear or other advanced weaponry. Possible at any time.
- Increasingly powerful particle accelerators. Some physicist think we have already created phenomena similar to black holes [1], although theorists believe these pose no risk as they evaporate extremely quickly. Although the very reason people are doing these experiments is because we do not precisely know how nature behaves at these extremely high energies. Possible at any time.
- Super-volcanic geological activity. Not sure that the risk is known.
- Climate change. It is more likely to affect other species that do not have the means to adapt first. But if it gets to the point where it affects species we rely on for our own survival then we will be at risk. Possible in the near future.
