# How long will the human race last? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 16, 1999, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106 "1999-06-16T23:24:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 1999, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/1 "1999-06-16T23:24:00Z")
You know, even when I rule out the possibility of nuclear war, I have a hard time imagining the human race lasting another 10,000 years, let alone another million. It seems like we’re the candle that burns twice as bright, but lasts half as long. If there isn’t an apocalyptic event like nuclear war or The Second Coming, what will probably happen to the human race? * * * “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way…” –Jessica Rabbit, **Who Framed Roger Rabbit** ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 1999, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/2 "1999-06-16T23:43:00Z")
You’re forgetting that the human species is on the verge of leaving the nest. Once the first child is born somewhere other than Earth, I don’t think there’s much chance of the entire species disappearing in the forseeable future. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/3 "1999-06-17T00:46:00Z")
Maybe, but I don’t think there’s going to be a space colony in my lifetime. Doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen, but colonizing the solar system is a LOT harder than people realize. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/4 "1999-06-17T04:09:00Z")
Perhaps… perhaps not. I doubt I’ll live to see people terraforming Venus, but I can imagine a fairly self-substaining colony on the moon within the 60ish years I have left. Technology keeps speeding forward faster and faster. I can’t imagine what it’ll be like in my old age. * * * “I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/5 "1999-06-17T04:22:00Z")
Well, you know what they say: “Slow and steady wins the human race.” * * * I don’t know who first said “everyone’s a critic,” but I think it’s a really stupid saying. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/6 "1999-06-17T05:48:00Z")
> [@](#): > > what will probably happen to the human race? We’ll evolve into a race of hyper-intelligent, pan-dimensional beings…or not. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/7 "1999-06-17T14:37:00Z")
> [@](#): > > We’ll evolve into a race of hyper-intelligent, pan-dimensional beings… So we’ll all be just like Cecil? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/8 "1999-06-17T15:17:00Z")
The race will last quite a while. Tens of thousands of years more. The current population level will burst in 50-150 years through some epidemic. Humans will survive in isolated areas, then repopulate the earth to a small low tech society. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/9 "1999-06-17T16:14:00Z")
Sunbear, have you been drinking the hard stuff again? It took (or realy will take) us less than 5 years to build and man the ISS (international space station) once we get up there we’re going to want bigger and better and that means the moon. after that it’s just a skip and a jump before we hit other planets. Don’t expect to be doing any vacation time on the moon but once were out there, papa bear had it correct there will always be man kind * * * no matter where you go…there you are ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/10 "1999-06-17T16:21:00Z")
“How long will the human race last?” Let’s see…what time is it now? I say it’s 15-to-1 that those damn insects start developing improved brains and opposable thumbs, and we will be overthrown by an unholy alliance between the cockroaches and the ants (who will be the evil genuises behind the plot, mark my words). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 1999, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/11 "1999-06-18T05:57:00Z")
## Love the topic, but I believe this question falls into the realm of calling for pure conjecture on the part of the teeming millions, and might be better served in a different forum. I suggest MPSIMS or Great Debates - it’s your call, Edward. Nickrz For the Straight Dope ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/12 "1999-06-17T19:37:00Z")
It seems to me that the only real limit would be the life span of the solar system, and maybe we can even exceed that. I would think that within the next few generations we will have the ability to genetically alter our race and start to expand our own physical and mental boundaries. It would be interesting to know if we will strive to create a race suited for exploration and expansion or a race that is in such perfect harmony and balance with our planet that there is no desire to go beyond it, or maybe some combination of both, or maybe something entirely different. ## Many people are terrified of applying genetic engineering to change human beings. I think it’s a natural and exciting progression for our race. Think about it. A race that changes itself so that it can continually learn, explore, and expand. So why not populate and exploit the entire solar system if we can redesign ourselves to do it? It’s not like we would be taking it away from somebody. And think what a race like that could do in 50,000 or 100,000 years, which is just the blink of an eye in cosmic time. There’s no reason to think that we couldn’t eventually figure out a way to leave these nine little planets behind and go poking around our region of the galaxy. And it all will have started with some ocean slime. I just wish I could time travel and see what really hapens. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/13 "1999-06-17T20:24:00Z")
My apologies, Nickrz. I didn’t know there was a forum called “Great Debates.” This question really belonged there than here. * * * “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way…” –Jessica Rabbit, **Who Framed Roger Rabbit** ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/14 "1999-06-17T20:55:00Z")
I haven’t checked if someone said this already, but this thread really should have gone under Great Debates. * * * “[He] beat his fist down upon the table and hurt his hand and became so further enraged… that he beat his fist down upon the table even harder and hurt his hand some more.” – Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/15 "1999-06-17T21:10:00Z")
I’m giving you until 10 PM CST tonight and then I want you all out of the gene pool. Love, God (or, insert your favorite creator/deity here \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/16 "1999-06-17T22:41:00Z")
> [@](#): > > It seems to me that the only real limit would be the life span of the solar system, and maybe we can even exceed that. Just my opinion, but I’d say if we actually manage to survive until the end of the solar system, we’ll manage to outlive 'er. * * * ‘They couldn’t hit an Elephant from this dist…!’ Last words of General John Sedgwick ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 1999, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/17 "1999-06-18T00:10:00Z")
Who cares? if the human race dies off it will be sometime after i die, so what’s to worry about? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 1999, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-will-the-human-race-last/1106/18 "1999-06-18T00:16:00Z")
O.K., Nickrz–I’ve posted this question in the Great Debates forum. You can close this thread if you want, now. * * * “I’m not bad, I’m just drawn that way…” –Jessica Rabbit, **Who Framed Roger Rabbit**