In this eighth, FUTURE EPOCH, the cosmic-evolutionary scenario has been extended in time and generalized in space. Our twin objectives have been to explore the likelihood of life surviving on Earth and to assess the chances that life exists elsewhere in the Universe—and, furthermore, whether the presence of life beyond Earth (ours or theirs) might actually help us survive as an intelligent species. We concluded that Earth is probably the only place in the Solar System harboring life, though the prospects for life elsewhere in the Galaxy seem greater if only because the Galaxy is so much larger—let alone the vastly larger Universe itself. That said, intelligent life elsewhere depends on so many uncertain factors as to make it nearly impossible to know for sure if extraterrestrial aliens exist or if we could ever contact them. The central ideas of cosmic evolution seem to favor the existence of such extratrerrestrial life, but we haven’t yet been able to observationally prove it. We might be surrounded by star systems teeming with life much like that on Earth. Or, we might be alone in the Universe.
The hallmark of humanity is exploration—an innate desire, an insatiable thirst, to know who we are, where we came from, and where we’re headed. Exploring means observing, watching, probing, questioning. To halt exploration at this juncture would be to act against the very attribute—curiosity—that most makes us human. Failure to inhabit nearby matter, and at least to reconnoiter distant matter, might prematurely terminate humankind’s exploratory drive. Indeed, civilization’s technological longevity might be short if we don’t persue the colonization of planets and the search for extraterrestrials.
Neither thinking alone nor believing alone will ever prove if we have galactic neighbors, or if we are destined to universal loneliness. Only reasoned analyses aided by experiments and observations—the hallmark of the modern scientific method—will help us to approach the truth. What’s more, an international program of planetary colonization and extraterrestrial searching would provide additional stimulation and competition needed for survival. It could boost our inbred curiosity and exploratory spirit to new and exciting heights. And it might enable us to postpone, perhaps indefinitely, the regimented, totalitarian society for which we now seem headed.
The critical concern for us in the years ahead is this: When a technological civilization tries repeatedly to solve the numerous planetwide crises that inevitably confront any evolving society and, by doing so, plunges straight toward mental and physical stagnation—the crisis that ends all crises—is there enough time to disperse beyond its planetary system and to establish an interstellar dialogue? Human evolution of this magnitude has in the past usually required tens of thousands, even millions, of years, though there are some precedents for significant, quicker change, such as the transition from hunter-gatherers to agriculturists and that from feudal to industrial society. Clearly, great financial enthusiasm and social commitment will be needed to sustain such a duplex project of planetary terraforming and galactic searching for decades, maybe centuries . . . perhaps even forever.
Humankind may have evolved in the past from universal matter, but our future is now largely in our own hands. Are we smart enough to adjust to this alteration in the evolutionary scenario? Are we wise enough to ensure our own survival? Is the great and natural experiment called life destined to end or to flourish? The future of human life on Earth will truly be a measure of our current intelligence.
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Future of Planet Earth, UNESCO/FFF Proceedings, Paris, 2008; available at http://www.futurefoundation.org/documents/HUM-Proceedings-Future_of_Planet_Earth.pdf —See specifically http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~ejchaisson/reprints/FFF_Paris08pub.pdf
Reeves, H., Hour of Our Delight, 1991, W.H.Freeman, San Francisco.
Shklovskii, I. and Sagan, C., Intelligent Life in the Universe, 1966, Holden-Day, NY.
Swimme, B.T. and Tucker, M.E., Journey of the Universe, 2011, Yale Univ. Press, New Haven.
Tough, A. (ed.), When SETI Succeeds, Foundation for the Future, Seattle, 2000; available at http://www.futurefoundation.org/documents/hum_pro_wrk1.pdf —See specifically http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~ejchaisson/reprints/SETI_FFF.pdf
Ward, P., and Brownlee, D., Rare Earth, 1999, Springer-Verlag, NY.
Environmental Information:
http://earthtrends.wri.orgAstrobiology Institute:
http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/naiSETI Institute:
http://www.seti.org