UK - Humanity is under threat. At least according to Sir Martin Rees, one of Britain's most esteemed astronomers. In his new book, "On the Future," Rees turns his focus closer to home, examining the existential threats that face humanity over the next century. From cyberattacks to advances in biotechnology to artificial intelligence to climate change, Rees, Britain's Astronomer Royal, says we are living at a critical juncture — one that could define how the human species fares.
This century is crucial because if you're very pessimistic, you can imagine that we will misuse powerful technology and snuff ourselves out or foreclose a bright, longer-term future. On the other hand, if we use technology wisely, then it allows us to perhaps jump-start an even more exciting kind of civilization here on Earth and far beyond.
That's why even though the Earth has existed for 45 million centuries, and will go on existing for many million more centuries, this century is special because it's the one which is seeing the transition from natural evolution to maybe artificial evolution — whether biological or cyborg — and also the era when, for the first time, we can escape from this planet and perhaps start exploring others.