Are humans on a path to extinction?

A Report on the State of Planet Earth. There is a significant body of evidence that human extinction is now imminent; that is, it will occur within the next few years and possibly this year: 2020. Hence, taking into account all of the above factors, the prospects of averting human extinction are now remote, at best.

How can humans prevent extinction?

Scientists tell us the best way to protect endangered species is to protect the places where they live. Get involved by volunteering at your local nature center or wildlife refuge. Go wildlife or bird watching in nearby parks. Wildlife related recreation creates millions of jobs and supports local businesses.

What is the chance of human extinction?

Many experts who study these issues estimate that the total chance of human extinction in the 21st century is between 1 and 20\%.

Why did they become extinct?

Over the course of history many species have become extinct. Species may become extinct because of changes in climate (i.e. the ice age), competition with other species, a reduced food supply, or combinations of all of these. Most natural extinctions are isolated events that happen over a fairly long period of time.

What’s likely to cause human extinction?

Scenarios include: Nuclear and biological weapons, whether used in war or terrorism, could result in human extinction. The creators of a superintelligent entity could inadvertently give it goals that lead it to annihilate the human race. Uncontrolled nanotechnology ( grey goo) incidents resulting in the destruction of the Earth’s ecosystem ( ecophagy ).

What is the sixth major extinction?

Holocene extinction. The Holocene extinction, otherwise referred to as the Sixth extinction or Anthropocene extinction, is the ongoing extinction event of species during the present Holocene epoch, mainly as a result of human activity. The large number of extinctions spans numerous families of plants and animals, including mammals,…

What is causing the sixth mass extinction?

Humans are causing the sixth mass extinction through continued development to advance the human race without consideration of the environmental impact ( Eldredge , 2001). It is predicted three major causes of animal extinction are direct habitat destruction, over exploitation and introduced species.

Are humans extinct?

In futures studies, human extinction is the hypothetical end of the human species. This may result from natural causes or it may be the result of human action.