Stephen Hawking’s latest remark that it’s time for humans to colonize other planets that exist in far away solar systems if the race is to survive, pulls the cords of the alarming bells already resonating fiercely that Earth is now too feeble to sustain any more pressure of ‘life’.
Renowned British cosmologist, who’s confined to chair due to Lou Gehrig’s disease, while receiving the world’s oldest award for scientific achievement, the Copley medal, from Britain’s Royal Society on Thursday, said:
The long-term survival of the human race is at risk as long as it is confined to a single planet. Sooner or later, disasters such as an asteroid collision or nuclear war could wipe us all out. But once we spread out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe.
We cannot rebuff Hawking’s star trek fantasy as there is no other choice, doesn’t matter that it will take thousands of year to find and reach any hospitable planet like Earth in other far-flung solar systems with the speed of light. Stephen and some other scientists’ believe that this is possible by applying matter/antimatter annihilation to propel spacecraft, however, even they’re not sure about it’s feasibility as it violates the scientific law that ‘nothing can travel faster than light’.
So, will it remain a fantasy and life on earth is set to doom?
As far as catastrophe like asteroid collision, that would apparently wipe out life on the planet, is concerned, scientists are dead sure that it might happen anytime and annihilate species just like the dinosaurs. Although, thousands of small asteroids bombarding the planet’s atmosphere are not of major concern, however, bigger ones too are not far away. NASA is already working on ‘Armageddon’ style plan to land on any threatening asteroid heading towards Earth and destroy it.
To ensure long-term survival of species on Earth, we’ll have to make the star trek fantasy a reality, but right now it’s not feasible. However, we’re moving, though slowly, to give concrete shape to these castles we’re building, of late, in air and understand laws which govern the universe and ‘Time’.
Now, that is far away and the only option left is to check ‘ourselves’, especially when we clearly know how much juice Earth holds to support us.
Via: International Herald Tribune
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