Will I ever be more than hairy, oily goo wrapped in a T-Shirt?
October 5, 2007 12:59 PM   Subscribe

Moving to Saturn! Will I be packing an interplanetary GECKTM, or undergoing a bio-crystallization procedure with the Hydrogen Lung upgrade?

Based on our current level of technological advancement, which scenario is more scientifically feasible such that it would be the next step in human evolution:

A) Humans will be able to manipulate and control their environment in a sustainable way (control atmospheric temperature and composition, instantiate water cycles, etc.), allowing them to thrive on other planets.
B) Humans will be able to alter their own biology and physiology such that they can survive in any given environment (we become more than meat).

This isn't meant to be a poll - I'd appreciate actual examples of projects and research underway that are close to accomplishing either, or if you're up to it, you can disprove the possibility of one or the other (please show your work). And none of that "aliens make contact and give us their awesome technology in 2085." Let's assume it's just human brains and moxie at work.
posted by krippledkonscious to Science & Nature (1 answer total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: This kind of broad, open speculation on long-term future science is pretty much textbook chatfilter. Kudos on the Fallout reference, though.

 
I think you're underestimating the inescapable importance of human cooperation when you consider the innovations or possibilities you're imagining. The capacity for us to produce these things is going to be inhibited primarily by the ability of human organizations and institutions to cooperate on a level that goes completely beyond our current political, philosophical, and economic capabilities. Without a planetary level of coordination, none of this is remotely possible. I imagine that attempting to so radically change the nature of humanity and human existence will be met with incredible resistance in any other scenario.

The ideas you identify are only possible if the basic nature of our species were to drastically, collectively change. Which, given the events of the past 4-5,000 years or so, I consider to be highly unlikely.
posted by baphomet at 1:27 PM on October 5, 2007


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