NASA has recently backed Stephen Hawking's assertion about the urgency to act against the climate crisis and other threats, emphasizing the need for environmental responsibility and sustainable technologies.
Stephen Hawking is remembered as one of the greatest scientists in history, famous throughout his life for his invaluable contributions to the knowledge currently held about physics, astronomy, and other topics. For decades, he had been urging that humans begin the process of permanent colonization of other planets. Hawking highlighted an inescapable responsibility to protect the planet to prevent its deterioration and ensure human survival.
In a presentation at the Tencent Web Summit in Beijing, Stephen Hawking gave humanity less than 600 years before needing to leave Earth, approximately by the year 2600, due to climate change and resource depletion. He estimated that humanity could last until the year 2600 on Earth before it becomes a "gigantic ball of fire" due to global warming and climate change. Hawking stated, "We are running out of space, and the only places we can go are other worlds. It's time to explore other solar systems. Expanding may be the only thing that saves us from ourselves. I am convinced that humans need to leave Earth."
According to Stephen Hawking, climate change, fueled by global warming and the greenhouse effect, will be one of the main culprits of the disappearance of life as we know it, exacerbated by overpopulation and excessive consumption of natural resources. He emphasized the urgency of global change to prevent his prediction from becoming reality. Stephen Hawking perceived a series of other potential threats, including artificial intelligence, climate change, genetically modified viruses, and nuclear war. He was concerned about low-probability, high-impact phenomena, such as a large asteroid impacting Earth. Hawking argued that humanity would eventually fall victim to a catastrophe of "extinction" level, perhaps sooner rather than later.
To survive, Hawking proposed that, as a species, humans must leave Earth. In a documentary, he said, "I firmly believe we should start looking for alternative planets for possible habitability. We are running out of space on Earth and need to overcome the technological limitations that prevent us from living in other parts of the universe." The fascination with the end of the world has accompanied humanity for centuries, with apocalyptic tales often attributing this outcome to superior forces or natural disasters. Scientific advances have discarded many ancient beliefs about the end of the world, but the possibility of global extinction continues to generate great unease.
NASA has taken Stephen Hawking's predictions very seriously. The agency focuses on protecting the planet through programs that monitor threats like asteroids and observe the impact of climate change in real time. NASA established the Near-Earth Object Observation Network (NEOs) to detect and monitor asteroids and comets passing near Earth, as part of efforts to recognize potential threats. The Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory calculates and publishes precise orbits of objects approaching Earth. NASA conducts asteroid deflection tests, including the DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission launched in 2022, which intentionally impacted an asteroid to test whether this technique can change the trajectory of a threatening object. The success of DART demonstrates that it is possible to divert asteroids using this method.
The growing interest of private companies like SpaceX has accelerated exploration plans for Mars. Colonizing Mars, an idea that once seemed science fiction, has become a tangible scientific goal. Mars is the ideal candidate for colonization due to its relative proximity and certain similarities to Earth, such as seasonal cycles and the presence of polar ice caps, and could someday be an alternative home for humanity. However, converting Mars into a habitable place involves overcoming significant technical and scientific obstacles. One of the greatest challenges of Mars colonization is its thin atmosphere, which is composed mainly of carbon dioxide, making it unbreathable. To survive on Mars, future colonists would need sealed structures, possibly underground, to protect themselves from radiation and extreme temperatures.
Establishing a society on Mars also poses ethical and social challenges, such as defining legal norms and avoiding biological contamination of the planet. The involvement of private companies raises questions about the ownership and commercialization of space. Experts agree that, although it is still possible to reverse some damages, time is running out. The message is clear: acting now is essential to ensure the survival and well-being of future generations. Although we are closer than ever to achieving Mars colonization, a great investment in technology, ethics, and social organization will be needed to make Mars a viable home for humanity in the future.
If urgent action is not taken, the disappearance of our planet will be inevitable, according to NASA, highlighting the need for an urgent global response to the environmental crisis. Stephen Hawking's predictions serve as a stark reminder of the challenges humanity faces and the imperative to take immediate action to ensure the survival of our species.
Sources: El Colombiano, Ok Diario, El Tiempo, Últimas Noticias de Colombia y el Mundo, El Economista
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq