Surviving 1000 Centuries: Can We Do It?, (Hardcover)

This book provides a quantitative view of our civilization over the next 100,000 years, in comparison to the 40-60,000 years it took for modern humans to emerge from Africa, on the basis of contemporary scientific and technological knowledge. The opening chapters provide the general scientific background. The evolution of the Earth's atmosphere and the origin of water are highlighted. The authors then consider both cosmic and natural hazards. The changing climate in the past and in the future is considered, along with future energy and inorganic resources. The colonization of other planets, and the possibility of extracting resources from the Moon or asteroids are discussed. The final chapters stress the importance of international collaboration to manage Earth's future, together with the crucial role of space for its monitoring, surveillance and management.