The end of the world is coming

[yellowstoner]

Some light summer reading

In 2000, paleontologist Peter D. Ward and astronomer Donald Brownlee argued persuasively in their book “Rare Earth” that life in all its complexity found on Earth is most likely a cosmic aberration, a unique circumstance that — if their theory is true — dashes the hopes of sci-fi fans and extraterrestrial hunters everywhere. This year, the authors returned with an analysis of Earth’s far-flung future that is as bleak as humanity’s chances of meeting E.T.s, intelligent or otherwise

We may “freeze” again in the future as we have in the past. This could be as severe as another “Snowball Earth” episode, or it could just be a continuation of glacial-interglacial cycles. On the long term, the fate is “fry and dry.” The sun continuously gets hotter, and its heat ultimately melts the earth’s surface — and worse.

Humans have great effects on the short term (global warming, species extinction, etc.) but it is not likely that we can play an significant role in the main events that will change Earth on long time scales. These events include the merging of the continents (again), decline of CO2 below levels required to support plant life, the loss of the oceans to space and our planet being swallowed by the sun. Human intervention on these effects would require engineering on a incredible scale. The ultimate fate of Earth is determined by the ever-increasing brightness of the sun — a natural and unstoppable process.

Better get that Disney vacation planned. :lol:

 

[SpongeScott]

I guess those two won't be speaking at the Optimist Club meeting.

 

[Irrawaddy Erik]

Should I pay off my credit cards? HAHA:lol:

 

[WDWFREAK53]

*goes to nearest corner :lookaroun *

 

[SpongeScott]

Originally posted by hmppan
Should I pay off my credit cards? HAHA:lol:

No no no. Go and charge all you want and hope that we're eaten by the sun before the 15th of the month so that you don't have to pay on the balances.

 

[ArchiDanDisney]

This is supposed to happen in like 5 billion years lol....and the chances that we are the only life form out of the trillions upon trillions of stars, which could have planets, is STUPID! I mean how niave can these people be?

 

[Irrawaddy Erik]

Originally posted by sandjhooker
No no no. Go and charge all you want and hope that we're eaten by the sun before the 15th of the month so that you don't have to pay on the balances.

Anyone wanna go to Disney? (Brian's paying)

 

[tenchu]

Originally posted by ArchiDanDisney
This is supposed to happen in like 5 billion years lol....and the chances that we are the only life form out of the trillions upon trillions of stars, which could have planets, is STUPID! I mean how niave can these people be?

Personally I don't think this is naive. I do believe that there may be otherlife forms out there, but we have no proof.

I'm sure that in their book, they can give a lot of perfectly good reasons to back up their claims. If its so easy to believe that there may be other lifeforms, why isn't it as easy to believe that there is none?

Good read thanks yellowstoner.

 

[Maria]

I agree with Tenchu.... I believe there are some other forms of life that don´t require the same conditions humans require to survive, or maybe they do, and there is another "Earth" somewhere in the huge Universe!

I just hope I am already dead when the end of the world comes... could be another asteroid like the one that hit Chicxulub, just 30 mins from where I live, or the reacommodation of continents -think of San Andrés in California or any earthquake!-, etc...

 

[WDWSwashbuckler]

You guys should check out this months issue of Scientific American. It's headline article is about "Infinite Earths in Parallel Universes" It's an interesting read, but really really weird

 

[darthdarrel]

DAMN and I thought this thread was about the song It`s the end of the world by R.E.M!:lol:

 

[ArchiDanDisney]

Originally posted by tenchu
Personally I don't think this is naive. I do believe that there may be otherlife forms out there, but we have no proof.

I'm sure that in their book, they can give a lot of perfectly good reasons to back up their claims. If its so easy to believe that there may be other lifeforms, why isn't it as easy to believe that there is none?

Good read thanks yellowstoner.

Isn't that like in the 1400's when people were saying the world was flat...? It just doesn't seem reasonable....

 

[tenchu]

Originally posted by ArchiDanDisney
Isn't that like in the 1400's when people were saying the world was flat...? It just doesn't seem reasonable....

Maybe it is, but do we have any conclusive evidence to prove otherwise?

The scientific community is based around this concept of evidence. You can say what you like, but unless you can prove it no-one will give a ________.

 

[darthdarrel]

Well if the world does come to an end I`m sure it`s so into the future that I will not be around to see it ,and I do beleive in other lifeforms on other planets!

 

[CDS Disney]

woooo who cares does any one here think that in even 1 million years life on this planet will look the same. Some members of the scientific comunity aply life now to things that wont happen for 1,000,000 or so years. The my team the Red Sox have a better chance of winning the world serries then any Mass extinction events occuring.

 

[tenchu]

Originally posted by darthdarrel
Well if the world does come to an end I`m sure it`s so into the future that I will not be around to see it ,and I do beleive in other lifeforms on other planets!

Who knows what will happen?

The world is actually overdue another ice age at the moment, and if one of them did occur, much of the northern continents would be covered in ice, there would be droughts in the other parts and the worlds climate would completely change.

We can also expect the gravitational field of the eatrh to flip at some point, what was was north will become south and vice versa.

Never underestimate the power of nature.

:wave:

 

[SpongeScott]

Originally posted by tenchu

The world is actually overdue another ice age at the moment

I thought we were fighting the aspects of global-warming....

 

[tenchu]

Originally posted by sandjhooker
I thought we were fighting the aspects of global-warming....

Global warming is actually a natural process, as without it, the earth would just be a big snowball. :lol:
There is a fair bit of debate as to whether the global warming we're experiencing just now is actually occuring naturally. The earths climate has fluctuated natural for millions of years. (But burning fossil fuels does contribute. Get your bicycles out peeps!)

I cant remember the exact figures, but i believe that the longest inter-glacial age the earth has had is about 15,000 years or something like that. The last one occured...

About 15,000 years ago.

Wrap up warm folks, we're in for a cold one!

 

[SpongeScott]

Originally posted by tenchu
Global warming is actually a natural process, as without it, the earth would just be a big snowball. :lol:
There is a fair bit of debate as to whether the global warming we're experiencing just now is actually occuring naturally. The earths climate has fluctuated natural for millions of years. (But burning fossil fuels does contribute. Get your bicycles out peeps!)

I cant remember the exact figures, but i believe that the longest inter-glacial age the earth has had is about 15,000 years or something like that. The last one occured...

About 15,000 years ago.

Wrap up warm folks, we're in for a cold one!

SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MouseMadness]

*nods head in a thoughtful manner, pretending to be one of "the smart people"*

Oh, yes, good point!! Here,here! Hmmm, another valid observation!