Modern humans have walked the Earth for about 200,000 years. In that time, we have colonized, inhabited, and “tamed” diverse environments on many continents. Unfortunately, our heavy footprint has seriously impacted the planet and fundamentally altered the biosphere. We have destroyed rainforests, depleted fisheries, burned huge amounts of fossil fuels, sucked water aquifers dry, and given Earth a fever in the form of global warming. So, should we stay here and work to repair or mitigate the damage we’ve done? Or should we try to move most of the human population off-Earth and let the planet heal itself?
Image credit: Don Davis
A second reason sometimes given in support of human expansion into space is that we might increase the odds of our species surviving an all-out nuclear, bio, or nanotech war. Also, the point is made that we inevitably must explore new frontiers and push the boundaries of our habitation range. It’s what we do, and it’s part of what makes us human.
How do you feel about these choices? Would you support a major effort to colonize space, whether it’s on the Moon, on Mars, in the asteroid belt, or in manufactured habitats? How high a priority should this be?
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Mike Treder is the Managing Director of the IEET, and former Executive Director of the non-profit Center for Responsible Nanotechnology.