News JVTech Is “the end of the world” closer than Stephen Hawking predicted? The physicist's estimates match some NASA analyzes
Published on 01/12/2024 at 3:15 p.m.
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Stephen Hawking predicted “the end of the world” in the relatively near future due to overpopulation and overconsumption. If NASA has denied having confirmed these assertions, the space agency does not deny the threats weighing on our planet.
An inevitable end?
One of the most brilliant minds of our time, Stephen Hawking, had expressed doubts about humanity's ability to survive in the long term. In a statement that caused quite a stir, the theoretical physicist predicted the transformation of the Earth into a “giant fireball” within a few centuriesif we do not radically change our way of life.
This exponential growth cannot continue over the next millennium. By the year 2600, the world's population will be neck and neck and electricity consumption will cause the Earth to heat up to death. This is untenable.
At the time, the theoretical physicist and cosmologist argued that the exponential growth of the world's population and ever-increasing energy consumption would threaten the balance of our planet. According to his calculations, the Earth could become unlivable by the year 2600. This apocalyptic vision, although alarming, was based on scientific data and complex mathematical models.
Within the scientific community and the general public, these predictions provoked strong reactions. While some downplayed the importance of these warnings, others took them very seriously. NASA, for example, when questioned on the subject, recently denied having confirmed the physicist's assertions. However, the space agency recognizes the existence of planetary threats, notably climate change, and underlines the importance of scientific research to better understand these issues.
Multiple threats
Beyond overpopulation and overconsumption, Hawking had identified other potential threats to humanity, such as nuclear war, the development of artificial intelligence, and pandemics. These risks, although often mentioned in fiction, have become very real in recent years and could have disastrous consequences for our civilization.. The late professor of mathematics at Cambridge University also added: “Although the probability of a catastrophe on planet Earth in any given year is quite small, it accumulates over time and becomes a near certainty over the next thousand or ten thousand years. »
Stephen Hawking's predictions and NASA's correlations, bleak as they are, should not be taken lightly. They constitute a call for vigilance and action. Continuing to implement ambitious policies to combat climate change, reduce our ecological footprint and promote sustainable development remains the priority for our common future.