We often wonder if we’re headed for the impending doomsday. Will humans face destruction like a few other extinct species on Earth? An evolutionary biologist and paleontologist believes that the answer to the question of human mass extinction is "definitely yes".
Nick Longrich, a senior lecturer at Bath University, explained that, like other species, humanity is destined to become extinct. In an article on The Conservation page of the academic and research community, he wrote that "nearly all species once lived, more than 99.9% extinct" including some human races like Neanderthals, Denisovan, Homo erectus, only modern people remain.
Certainly people are heading for extinction. The question is not whether we will become extinct, but when.
Longrich explained that humankind has so many vulnerable attributes that it becomes vulnerable to extinction when the time comes. The need for food to survive and disasters like global warming remain a threat to our species. However, people may be vulnerable but "resisting extinction".
He described humans as "extremely exotic species - common, abundant and extremely adaptable", because of these things we can stay on this Earth a little longer. The fact that humans live everywhere and is crowded on this planet makes it difficult for us to become extinct. According to the author, even if a disaster or pandemic reduced 99.9% of the population, there will still be millions of survivors to rebuild. The author said, "instead of taking generations to change our genes, humans use intelligence, culture and tools to manipulate behavior for years or even just minutes." .
Longrich believes that because humans have unique adaptations, they are able to survive a mass extinction event. However, adaptability can also become a problem when people "create new dangers" for themselves in their efforts to survive or dominate, such as nuclear weapons, pollution, and overpopulation. East, climate change ... However, the systems that connect people with each other allow us to support each other.
This shows a limited optimism. Humans have survived more than 250,000 from ice ages, volcanic eruptions, pandemics and world wars. We could easily live another 250,000 years or longer. The question is not whether humans will survive the next three or three hundred thousand years, but whether we can do anything more than survive.
