The end of the world is a very popular topic, as it concerns every inhabitant of our planet. Almost all prophets in their predictions mentioned the coming end times, calling it the accumulation of sins of the human race. However, about the events that should herald the end of the world, the opinions of the predictors differ. Today, futurists present several scenarios for the development of catastrophic events that really threaten the existence of mankind.
Threat from space
Several types of cosmic danger can end the existence of life on Earth. Among them, the first place is occupied by a collision with a huge cosmic body. Even if an asteroid with a size of no more than 1 km falls, the consequences for humanity will be catastrophic. When it collides with it, a lot of dust will rise into the air, which will close the planet from sunlight for a long time. This will lead to a cold snap, and as a result - the death of most of the plants and animals and people. If a space body falls into the ocean, it will also provoke the formation of a huge wave, which will cause massive destruction, reaching densely populated coastal areas.
A shock wave is no less dangerous in a collision with a cosmic body of a planet. According to experts' forecasts, an air explosion upon entering the atmosphere can result in no less casualties than from the fall of the asteroid itself.
Another threat from space is the invasion of hostile aliens. In 1960, an equation was developed by professor of astrophysics Frank Drake that showed the number of intelligent civilizations in our galaxy. This equation allows us to estimate the number of such civilizations as large enough, so the likelihood of human encounter with them is very high. It is worth remembering that not all of them can be friendly towards people, which means that the likelihood of conflict is very high. It is also worth considering that the level of development of such an alien civilization, most likely, will exceed the terrestrial one. This means that the likelihood of the end of human civilization with an extraterrestrial invasion is also quite high.
Threat from within
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The planet itself can pose no less danger to all living things. Volcanoes and supervolcanoes have a huge impact on the state of the climate and atmosphere. So, in 1815, the famous eruption of the Tambora volcano, located in Indonesia, took place, which, according to scientists, provoked the "Little Ice Age" of 1816-1817. This period was also called the “year without summer” and was characterized by incredibly cold weather throughout the world, especially in the northern hemisphere. Then in the USA, even in July, up to 1m of snow fell, and the temperature could fluctuate from +35 to 0 degrees during the day. At the same time, the volume of emissions from the volcano amounted to no more than 160 cubic meters. km.
Supervolcanoes differ from ordinary volcanoes in their larger-scale eruption, during which several thousand cubic meters are thrown into the atmosphere. km. ash and rock. Such an event can not only provoke the onset of the ice age, but also lead to other equally disastrous consequences. So, in addition to ash, large volumes of sulfur oxide, a very toxic and dangerous compound for all living things, will enter the atmosphere. In addition, combining with water vapor, it turns into sulfuric acid, which then falls to the ground in the form of acid rain, poisoning it.
One of these supervolcanoes is Yellowstone, capable of, if not destroying, then causing significant damage to human civilization. According to recent reports, this volcano is starting to activate, which gives serious cause for concern.
Danger from ourselves
Humanity itself can be no less dangerous. Today, there are many technologies that, having escaped from human control, can cause many disasters. Artificial intelligence is one such technology. Some forecasters believe that computers will soon become so powerful and efficient that they can become aware of themselves. In the future, machines can get out of control and subjugate people, or even destroy them. This scenario is often played out in science fiction films, but it does have some likelihood of real development.
In addition, a large-scale war with the use of the most modern types of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, can put an end to civilization. If this happens, the planet's surface will become unsuitable for life for a long time - cold and poisoned by acid rain.
The existence of human civilization can be threatened by various threats. However, esotericists are sure that some higher teachers will not allow people to perish completely. But for this, people must change for the better. Otherwise, there is a possibility that modern civilization can sink into oblivion, like the previous ones, perishing in a global cataclysm.