Asteroid impacts and space debris are two well-known ways life as we know it could end, but experts say our world has a more significant threat on the horizon. According to Josh Colwell of Walkabout the Galaxy, in about a billion years, the Earth will become an uninhabitable “dry, unlivable greenhouse world.” This catastrophic event is not imminent but poses an existential risk to human life.
Colwell also finds the thought of the universe’s eventual collapse and expansion troubling. In approximately 100 billion years, the observable universe will shrink, and what we can see today from distant galaxies will be lost. The only thing that will remain within our observable universe will be our local group of galaxies, including the Milky Way.
New theories suggest that human extinction could come sooner than previously thought. According to Stephen Hawking’s ideas, black hole evaporation may also affect white dwarfs and neutron stars. If true, this means we could eliminate these celestial bodies and potentially shorten the timeline for the end of the universe.
As humans venture into space on long-duration missions, scientists are working to protect the human body from its effects. Researchers are studying necrosis, or abnormal cell death caused by external factors like toxins or trauma. In space, cosmic radiation and microgravity accelerate tissue degeneration. While a solution has not been found, AI-powered drug discovery engines have shown promise in slowing down necrosis.
Recent studies using an AI-enabled engine found that hitting specific targets within cells simultaneously can inhibit necrosis by up to 90% across various stressors. This breakthrough may lead to revolutionary interventions for human health and extend the lifespan of space missions.
Source: https://www.cfpublic.org/podcast/are-we-there-yet/2025-06-06/death-in-space