History Unplugged Podcast Humanity’s Past Suggests We Only Have 10,000 Years to Change or Go Extinct
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Mar 27, 2025 Henry Gee, author of "The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire," dives into the precarious state of humanity's future. He discusses the alarming slowdown of population growth and its potential consequences, including resource depletion and ecological threats. Highlighting the urgency for space colonization, he argues we have a mere 10,000 years to adapt or face extinction. With insights from paleontology, Gee underscores the need for cooperation and innovation to navigate these challenges. Can we change our course in time?
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Humans' Vulnerability to Extinction
- Humans, like other animals, are susceptible to environmental pressures and extinction.
- Lack of genetic diversity, declining sperm quality, and climate change threaten human survival.
Dinosaur Extinction Theories
- Before the asteroid theory, many alternative theories explained dinosaur extinction, including mammalian competition and boredom.
- Paleontologist Mike Benton collected these theories, some quite outlandish, like dinosaurs dying from indigestion or hay fever.
Orthogenesis and Species Survival
- Orthogenesis suggests a species thrives with competition but declines when alone.
- This implies that friction and a peer environment are crucial for survival, fighting against entropy.
