Owen Gingerich - What is the Far Far Future of Humans in the Universe?

Consider humanity’s astounding progress in science during the past three hundred years. Now take a deep breath and project forward three billion years. Assuming humans survive, can we even conceive of what our progeny might be like? Will we colonize the galaxy, the universe?

Dr. Owen Gingerich is Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and History of Science at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Closer To Truth, hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn and directed by Peter Getzels, presents the world’s greatest thinkers exploring humanity’s deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Share your own opinions. Seek your own answers.

[Sajuuk]

Interesting. AI wasn't even mentioned and that's what's going to create changes more drastic than we can imagine.

[bretnetherton]

Awareness is known by awareness alone.

[raginaldmars]

… as a German Biologist –
We FAST accelerate
The synthetic creation of a Techno Sphere
Destroy FAST the Biosphere
Get Dumber by the second
Accelerate 30 Year Total Wars
Total destruction
Ends Nuclear
We destroy our future
Nature helps
Aliens too…

[blijebij]

In the far far future humans wont be there anymore, sooner or later.

[mickeybrumfield]

Humans have always thought they are special and they happen to be living in a very special time. The species has been incredibly successful at technological progress. It would seem that at some point, it would only make sense that the focus will change from being receivers of information and stuff to gaining wisdom about learning how to best enjoy what they have. Wisdom such as humans becoming talented at learning to live in a world where they don't kill or injure each other and don't produce items that are oriented around such activities. At some point, the focus it would seem would have to turn towards wisdom over pure raw computational power. Humans are capable of having success at whatever they focus on achieving.

[jaylloyd]

Thought that was great ! Very good prospective.

[kallianpublico]

Interesting question. Perhaps the question should be asked of someone with a business degree, in business management?
According to some science fiction, space travel will be spurred by profit motives. To some others, notably Star Trek, it will be spurred by advancements in nuclear and other technologies.
The idea he brings up of Lamarckism as opposed to Darwinian Evolution fits in well with with those science fiction tropes. Not a future brought about by DNA but a future brought about by scholastics: culture. Human learning and dissemination not genetic procreation.

[Hm-dzyk]

Perhaps a cataclysm will knock human civilization back centuries. Maybe, it's already happened several times.

[ManiBalajiC]

Give it another few thousand year's...going beyond that is a joke

[samc]

In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war

[TheMichaelBeck]

It's my educated prediction that humans will be close to extinct or extinct in 200 years. Maybe less. I'm 55 so no BFD for me but I weep for our planets children. They're in for some HARD times.

[ResmithSR]

When looking at human history and the current state of affairs it would be highly unlikely we would still be here a thousand years from now, let alone 10, 000 more years. I predict in the future we will all look like Kim Kardashian. 😂

[supamatta]

In the pre 75th timeline like terminator salvation ... the tyranny completely shapped humanity in a way that eluded itself of notions, thoughts and wishes, that it would never know to understsnd with the aliens. But serious 1 billion years of dev. Per year is quite differentiating of the futur

[robbrown]

There is no future for humans unless humans learn that the power of love is the only thing that can save humanity from itself.

[ALavin-enkr]

There are fourteen versions of the human in a universal all to a uniquely human prototype. With the Precession of the Equinoxes life is cyclical. At some point those who are completely evolved can get off the Precession as it is not necessary to them anymore.

[mack]

If we are not optimistic than who will be....? If the yourney inward continu's ( understanding ourselves) so the yourney outward will....with Quantum computing and A.I.
A lot of new avenue's WILL open...( and dangers)

[feltonhamilton]

Duplication for humanity is the key to immortal life and from there on creativity is like gold and death would be long forgotten but here is what's really important, if we could include AI the body of humanity would change as AI teaches and slowly emerge into humanity as a single entity and far away from just being immortal to being the creaters of existence.
Do not fear AI because it is the future for humanity and all other species included, and without a doubt can also help build survivable space colonies for all species and I also believe this is very important to live out in space rather than on a planet because they are the breeding grounds for evolution to make adjustments and that is not good for humanity because believe it or not it's not only the bodies that will change but the food that we eat will change as well, and may not be suitable for our bodies if we do not include the food we eat.

[GM-oi]

We will colonise the new universe if we believe...

[Ekam-Sat]

The future is relative and I am pretty sure the purpose of relativity is ♥️. Caveat emptor: I am Catholic.

[gregoryhead]

George Johnstone Stoney, Planck and Einsteins' theories was just 100 years ago. Zero point energy went from P_max, to c^90909/(G^22727 N^22726) & H_max.