Mankind must abandon earth or face extinction: Stephen Hawking-11/08/2010

11/08/2010

Mankind must abandon earth or face extinction: Stephen Hawking

London: Mankind's only chance of long-term survival lies in colonising space, as humans drain Earth of resources and face a terrifying array of new threats, warned British scientist Stephen Hawking.



British theoretical physicist professor Stephen Hawking lectures on his research, life and times the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo. Reuters

"The human race shouldn't have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet," the renowned astrophysicist told the website Big Think, a forum which airs ideas on many subjects from experts.

"Our only chance of long-term survival is not to remain inward looking on planet Earth, but to spread out into space," he added.



File photo of President John F. Kennedy conferring with his brother Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy at the White House on Oct. 1, 1962, during the buildup of military tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that became Cuban missile crisis later that month. AP

He warned that the human race was likely to face an increased number of events that threaten its very existence, as the Cuban missile crisis did in 1962.

The Cold War showdown saw the United States and Soviet Union in a confrontation over Soviet missiles deployed in Cuba, near US shores, and brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.



British theoretical physicist professor Stephen Hawking lectures on his research, life and times. AP

"We are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history," said Hawking.

"Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth are growing exponentially, along with our technical ability to change the environment for good or ill."



This star-forming region, captured by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. According to British theoretical physicist professor Stephen Hawking, 'our future is in space'. NASA

If we want to survive beyond the next century, "our future is in space," added the scientist.

"That is why I'm in favour of manned, or should I say 'personed', space flight."

His comments came after he warned in a recent television series that mankind should avoid contact with aliens at all costs, as the consequences could be devastating.

Source: AFP