Real damage to the end of the world: Human annihilation (Part 2)

Disaster comes mainly from nature, such as meteorites or super volcanoes, or because the earth gets warmer or the environment is destroyed. But there are also causes from man, such as nuclear war or chemistry . And according to the Institute of Future Humanity (FHI), human apocalypse is more likely to be artificial than natural.

Artificial hazards

In 2012, Cambridge University (UK) established the Endangered Research Project (TCPER) for humans. This project highlighted the human-induced risks that could destroy themselves. It is believed that computers that are capable of learning will quickly become super smart and can resist humanity, like Skynet in the movie "Destroyer".

Physical genius Stephen Hawking, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, founder of SpaceX Elon Musk, expressed concern about the possibility that artificial intelligence (AI) will reach the point where people cannot control it.

In 2009, the AI ​​Development Association (AAAI) organized a conference to bring together the world's leading experts to discuss whether computers and robots should be able to learn automatically and to what extent possible. dangerous. They note that there are a number of robots that are able to sell automatically in many ways, such as being able to find energy sources or choose to attack by weapons.

Some computer viruses can defend themselves against antivirus software and reach "cockroach intelligence". Researcher AI Eliezer Yudkowsky believes that AI risk is more difficult to predict than all known hazards.

Biotechnology can be a great threat to mankind in the form of strange diseases or even biological bombs. This disaster could become a reality if used in war, terrorist attacks and even accidents. Analysts say biological warfare and bioterrorism are more dangerous than nuclear war and chemical warfare, because biological weapons are easier to mass produce and difficult to control.

Besides, global warming is spreading when people promote industrial production activities. This phenomenon will cause global warming, rising sea levels and extreme weather events to occur more frequently, weather-related disasters also appear more. Global warming will reduce biodiversity, put pressure on food production systems, increase the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria, and accelerate the rapid transformation of microorganisms. In a pessimistic scenario, global warming can make the earth as hot as Venus.

In a more optimistic scenario, it could lead to the end of human civilization today. In addition, there are scenarios such as water scarcity that can lead to half of the Earth's population without drinking water; Plant pollination does not take place because of pollinated insects that become extinct; overfishing, depleting aquatic resources; deforestation leads to forest ecological destruction, desertification .

Scientists also believe that human tests can create catastrophes for both Earth and Solar System. For example, tests for nuclear weapons can ignite the atmosphere. Recently, people were worried that the giant particle accelerator (LHC) could launch a global chain of reactions that created black holes, polar earth islands. Biotechnology can create pandemics, chemical warfare can destroy planet life, nanotechnology can lead to robots cloning and fighting humans .

In addition, people are also concerned about a nuclear war that can destroy humanity. Or a war when the participants use other weapons of mass destruction such as biological bombs, chemical bombs .

Every 40,000-100,000 years of the earth can fall into the ice age once, can destroy species.

Natural hazards

In human history, several meteorites have collided with the earth. For example, the meteorite Chicxulub is thought to have caused an extinction for flightless dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Now if a similar object collides with the earth, it could have a serious impact on the civilization of humanity, even causing humanity to perish. To do that, meteorites must be at least 1km in diameter. Probability of meteorite impact 1km in diameter with the earth about 500,000 years / time.

Some people believe that alien life forms can invade the earth to destroy or expel human beings, or turn humans into slaves to exploit the earth's resources . Although evidence of humans Aliens have never been published, scientists like Carl Sagan argue that their existence is almost certain. Scientists think that alien scenarios are theoretically possible, but are less likely to happen.

Climate change has also been the cause of previous extinction of many species on Earth. At one time, the earth became a "snow globe" when all oceans were covered with ice. This phenomenon occurred at the end of the Ice Age before human civilization appeared about 10,000 years. In the history of the earth there have been many glacial periods, and they are spaced between 40,000-100,000 years.

The threats from the universe are also permanent. There are many things that can endanger the Earth from the universe, like stars, planets or black holes. They will cause disaster if they appear in the solar system. In April 2008, scientists in Paris and California warned about 1% of Mercury's ability to orbit because of great attraction from Jupiter.

This will cause a collision with the earth as one of four possible scenarios and then all life on earth will end. There are also other dangers such as gamma-ray bursts, super solar storms or the appearance of new stars .

Within the earth, hazards can come from geological changes that create super tsunamis or super volcanoes. In fact, the earth has changed geologically many times, the continents have risen and fallen many times. In addition, humanity can also be killed by global epidemics, such as SARS or Zika . Especially in the context of the emergence of many antibiotic-resistant viruses today, the possibility of outbreaks of disease greater.