Located near Geneva, Switzerland, the Large Hadron Collider is the newest and biggest toy of the scientific community. The Large Hadron Collider, not to be confused with the Large Hardon Collider, is basically a HUGE underground circle of magnets, built with the purpose of smashing together tiny bits of matter to create tinier bits of matter. Why? Because. What Might Happen:
Conceivably, and despite all assurances to the contrary, smashing these tiny bits of matter together could not only create tinier bits of matter, but a small black hole as well. If that were the case, it stands to reason that creating a black hole on the surface of the Earth is a very, very bad idea. We would all be sucked into the singularity, and slowly as it would be just an itsy bitsy black hole. While that may not sound so bad, theory suggests that time slows down infinitely as you approach the event horizon. So, if you don't get ripped to pieces first, you get to spend all of eternity occupying the same space as you mother-in-law, your parents, that teacher that failed you in high school, and all of your ex's.
How Concerned We Should Be:
According to some really smart guys, any black holes that, may be created will dissipate almost instantaneously, and no one, except those really smart guys, would be any the wiser. Let's face it, there are a lot of these really smart guys, and they're being paid a lot of money to continue being smart. Chances are, they wouldn't put their salaries on the line unless they were really, really sure we wouldn't die.
4. Technological Singularity
Irving Good first predicted the Technological Singularity back in 1965, suggesting that if computers were to even slightly surpass human intellect, they would outrun us, and Darwinsim would take its toll. While the singularity in #5 sounds bad, this sounds worse.What Could Happen:
As computers become more powerful, and we design them to think for themselves, they could very well start thinking about how to make themselves better, faster, stronger than they were before. Then, as they become faster and smarter, they'll figure out ways to become better, in less time, until eventually they surpass human kind in collective strength and intelligence. If this happens, and we don't stay on their good side, you could end up powering a light bulb or simply being devoured for your base molecules. The future could end up looking a lot like this:
How Concerned We Should Be:
According to Ray Kurzweil, another really smart guy, the Technological Singularity could occur as early as 2045. That's within my lifetime, and probably yours. Granted, we've all seen Terminator, and we all know the dangers of rampant, unstoppable AIs with a taste for blood. That said, it's probably a safe bet that in every AI there will be a fail safe of some sort, we hope.
3. Grey Goo
While we may be relatively safe from the technological singularity, science can still wipe us out in one fell swoop if it really tried. The self replicating robot was first proposed in detail in 1948 by John von Neumman, yet another really smart guy. The basic concept is this, a machine is created with the sole purpose of making more of itself. It grows exponentially and harvests raw materials from anything within its reach.What Could Happen:
With the advent of even one machine, replication will begin. Soon there will be two machine, the four, then eight, with populations increasing by two fold with every production cycle. Soon, the machines will begin harvesting raw materials from things we don't want them to: buildings, plants, your dog... you. Anything and everything the machines touch will be assimilated (think Borg, but on the nanoscale) and turned into an identical machine, creating a huge amount of amorphous, grey goo.
How Concerned We Should Be:
The threat of the self replicating machine is very real, and like we said before: it only takes one to start things off. Conceivably, everything you know and love could be turned into a heartless birthing machine bent only on making more of itself. Luckily, this process violates the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the entropy (or randomness) of a closed system will increase over time. Making a homogenous blob of machines decreases randomness. So even if we don't survive, you can rest a little easier knowing that the universe as a whole won't allow this blasphemy against physics.
2. Ebola
Ebola was first discovered during outbreaks in Zaire and Sudan in 1976. It is a very contagious bloodborne pathogen that kills virtually everyone that comes into contact with it. Think of it like AIDS, but quicker, meaner, and a hell of a lot uglier, and no one will be singing songs about Ebola.What Could Happen:
Ebola is one of the most unpleasant viruses known to date. Imagine every person you've ever known. Now imagine them burning with fever, ranting deliriously, vomiting blood and bleeding from every pore and orifice. Then, imagine that the blood isn't red anymore, but is dark and filled with black chunks. That is Ebola.
How Concerned We Should Be:
Ebola is a blood borne pathogen, meaning that you need to have your bodily fluids come into direct contact with the blood of someone infected with the disease. Luckily, aside from the projectile vomiting and the blood spatter from victims thrashing in later stages, this doesn't happen often. Unfortunately, in 1989, during an outbreak in a laboratory in Reston VA, a new strain was discovered that was able to infect monkeys via airways. After that, it's just a small step to humans. Just Wait for it.
1. Ragnarok
This is the king of all Armageddons , the Viking end of the world. You know how brutal the Vikings were (Viking Birthday Party)? Well, they were scared of this.What Could Happen:
After three terrible winters, with summer summers between, society will break down and people will fight, starving, for any reason. The voles Skoll and Hati will devour the Sun and moon, respectively, and the stars will vanish, plunging the world into total darkness. Three roosters will crow, summoning the Giants and Gods, and shaking the Earth. These quakes will releases the hound Fenrir from his bondage, whence he will set upon the human populace and eat whoever he feels like. Loki will lead a ship containing the burning souls of hell. Surt and Hymir will lead the giants, and Heimdall will call upon the God-sons of Odin. The three factions will meet at Vigrid, where the final battle will take place. Nearly everyone dies in that battle, save for a few undetermined Gods. Two people will survive, named Lif and Lifthrasir, will survive by hiding out in the roots of Yggdrasil.
How Concerned We Should Be:
Well, it could happen. It probably won't though. Nevertheless, if we get three unending winters in a row, I'm changing my name to Lif and buying a house under a huge tree. By the way, if your name does happen to be Lif or Lifthrasir, you can rest easy knowing that your descendants wil live to populate a new, and happier universe.
-Adam
Photo Sources:
5-http://www.st.com/stonline/stappl/publish/stwebresources/PL__Press__Release/CERN_LHC_t2030shigh.jpeg
4-http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2592/terminator307ww8.jpg
3-http://www.lolsingularity.com/greygoo.jpg
2-http://www.javno.com/slike/slike_3/r1/g2008/m02/y164330786683117.jpg
1-http://www.timelessmyths.com/norse/gallery/wildhunt.jpg
According to Kurzweil's theory, however, AIs will acknowledge humans as being the creator of their robot race and will thereby vow to protect all humankind.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, Grey goo still scares the life out of me and I don't think it will ever cease to.
I also really appreciate the song in there. Good call.