Some say the world will end in fire; some say in ice. Paleontologist Peter Ward says the seas could turn to sulfur; physicist Michio Kakutani expects the world (along with the rest of the Universe) to end in a deep freeze—though he holds out hope that we could stay warm by escaping to a parallel Universe. Environmental scientist Stewart Brand foresees a climate catastrophe, astronomer Edward Sion worries about supernovas and asteroid impacts, physicst Melissa Franklin contemplates being swallowed quickly and painlessly by a black hole—which wouldn’t be so bad, she says. Astronomer Robert Kirshner imagines a lonely future back here in the Milky Way after the expansion of the Universe transports the other galaxies beyond our observable horizon. Political scientist Graham Allison imagines destruction by nuclear terrorists, and pretty much everyone agrees that sooner or later the earth will be swallowed by a dying sun.
You can watch the video interviews at BigThink, where, as always, I wish they would post transcripts; reading is faster than viewing and skimming is faster still. But if you’ve got the patience, some of these are fun.
What’s your (realistic or fanciful) scenario for the end of days?
someone trips and disconnects the power to the simulator
http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2010/03/11/Anna-Nicole-opera-to-be-staged-in-London/UPI-93381268361001/
“An opera inspired by the life of former U.S. model and television personality Anna Nicole Smith is to premiere at London’s Royal Opera House, the BBC said.”
Although I may be confusing signs of the apocalypse with the means.
Fenn, you could be right. There is an argument from statistics that if simulated reality is possible, it is almost certain that we are living in a simulated universe. It is presumably easier to run a simulation than create a real universe, so there will be hugely more simulations than real ones. I don’t know if it makes any difference, as long as that plug stays in.
All I know is that the biggest question of all time will continue to be “why is there something rather than nothing?” Also, has something always been in existence or was there ever a state of nothing? It just doesn’t seem possible that there was ever a state of nothing. Oh well enough of the sophomoric rantings.
42
Oh man, great thread. This is one of those times when I wish I could contribute something funny and I’ve got nothing!
Bennett – That is just hilarious. If that isn’t a clear sign of the coming apocalypse, then I have no idea what one could possibly look like.
Fenn/Harold – I’d like to think I’m a red pill guy, but I’d be lying if I claimed to be immune to the attractions of the blue pill.
Josh – Not sophomoric, it could be the fundamental question/challenge of science.
Dave — It could end in 42, but be sure to bring a towel!
I look forward to reading more on this thread, serious and funny. Good weekend all.
“…as always, I wish they would post transcripts; reading is faster than viewing and skimming is faster still.”
Me too.
Its amusing to me that if you’re a hammer, the end of the world is a nail. If you’re a screwdrive, the end of the world is a screw. If you’re a …..
If its gonna happen, could it happen before my 3/24 customer audit please.
I’m with Sion. I think asteroids are currently the only threat that could completely end humanity, and they will remain an existential threat as long as we remain a one-planet species.
The Bad Astronomer Phil Plait wrote a great book recently titled ‘Death from the Skies” It’s a fun ride through all the ways the universe is out to kill us.
there is a big difference here between the end of the world and the end of one of its inhabitant species. nuclear terrorists or an asteroid could perhaps cause mass extinctions but neither would end the world.
what will happen to the solid planets when the sun burns out? theyll get blown out of orbit?
one mans home planet is another mans giant asteroid.
dave,
As I understand it, the sun will become a red giant, which is to say its radius will expand and it will swallow up the earth. So more like one man’s home planet is another man’s giant bit of charcoal.