How far into the future......

[oiprocs]

.....will the world go? Year 4000? 7000? Is this even plausible, i.e. can we consider this worth contemplating? Do you guys think it will 'end' at some time? Or is it just one big merry go round that never stops, only changes?

I'm reading some sites and the general consensus is that Earth was created approximately 4.5 billion years ago, but that doesn't point out when the universe was created/started; as far as my uninformed mind knows, it could be any number > 4.5 billion. Then inherently, the future could last as long as forever. Eternity sounds like such a drag, because you'll never get questions answered.

 

[jimbob200521]

The earth will most likely die from something like an asteroid or something as stupid as us blowing it up...I see both as being equally possible in the next 1-1,000,000 years.

 

[mobobuff]

[Obligatory] Put the crack pipe down [/O]

Anyway, the earth will be around for a while, but humans won't always be the dominant species.

 

[KingGheedora]

Scientists do have an estimation for the age of the universe. I think it's something like 15 - 20 billion years. I could be way off on the number, but I know it's under 20 billion.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: mobobuff
[Obligatory] Put the crack pipe down [/O]

Anyway, the earth will be around for a while, but humans won't always be the dominant species.

Exactly. The age of the sea otter is coming.

 

[kagy600]

4.5 billion years old = 4,500,000,000 yrs

Earth lasting for "only" a few thousand more years? highly unlikely

Things like this are just worthless to waste your time thinking about. B/c there isnt anything to "figure out" or a right answer

 

[Ns1]

teh earth will last until 1 day after its warranty expires in 2054

 

[judasmachine]

excluding things such as magnetars, asteroids, etc. we will not survive our sun going nova.

 

[Electric Amish]

puff....puff...pass

 

[jjones]

I'm pretty sure the earth only has about 37 years left, then it just disappears and mankind falls to the bottom of the universe, but the cows float away and populate other worlds.

 

[RichUK]

Well, since the earth is estimated to be roughly 4.55 billion years old, I?m sure it will last a little longer than just 4 or 5 thousand more years.

 

[makken]

if you believe in the big bang theory, then the universe is somewhere between 13 and 14 billion years old, can't remember the exact number off the top of my head, think it's 13.7 billion.

The earth, assuming it doesn't get destroyed by some outside force, still has a few billion years left before the sun dies and expands to consume it.

the ultimate end of the universe is something that we're not exactly sure of, although the heat death model (where all energy ultimately gets converted into a "useless" form) seems to be the most plausible right now.

edit: wiki article on heat death: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_death

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: adairusmc
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: mobobuff
[Obligatory] Put the crack pipe down [/O]

Anyway, the earth will be around for a while, but humans won't always be the dominant species.</end quote></div>

Exactly. The age of the sea otter is coming.

Yes, they are already plotting the takeover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epUk3T2Kfno

KT

 

[Gunslinger08]

Long enough for me to not care.

 

[Anubis]

the sun wont go nova for a nother 3 or so billion years, so the planet will be here till then, assuming it doesn?t get obliterated by a commit or asteroid or whatnot

Humanity might not make it till the end of the century, well figure that on out in like 5 years

However tomorrow we could all be killed my a random gamma ray blast form the sun
/tinfoil hat

 

[oiprocs]

Okay, so it's fair to say that the Earth won't be expiring anytime soon. If thinking about something like this is worthless, why do people talk so much about an afterlife or those who are religious talk of what happens after you die? If we are all so unsure of things, then why doesn't everyone just live their life as happily as they can while they can?

It doesn't make sense that we can make statements about what will or won't happen when the truth is nobody knows. Why are people ignorant of this, or why do they think that a book tells everything about the world? This is not supposed to be about religion; I'm just trying to see if I can get to the idea that since there is so much uncertainty, everyone pretty much just choose what it is they will do with their life. That's why I have trouble understanding why others don't "live and let live"?

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: shaytahn
Okay, so it's fair to say that the Earth won't be expiring anytime soon. If thinking about something like this is worthless, why do people talk so much about an afterlife or those who are religious talk of what happens after you die? If we are all so unsure of things, then why doesn't everyone just live their life as happily as they can while they can?

It doesn't make sense that we can make statements about what will or won't happen when the truth is nobody knows. Why are people ignorant of this, or why do they think that a book tells everything about the world? This is not supposed to be about religion; I'm just trying to see if I can get to the idea that since there is so much uncertainty, everyone pretty much just choose what it is they will do with their life. That's why I have trouble understanding why others don't "live and let live"?

You?re going off on a totally different tangent.

Next you?ll be asking "what's the meaning of life?".

 

[Mallarddrake44]

it was 128 degrees in California yesterday and its not even the hottest part of summer yet...maybe global warming could be taken into consideration

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: shaytahn
It doesn't make sense that we can make statements about what will or won't happen when the truth is nobody knows.

But speculation is fun. Some people take it too seriously and insist they know for sure, but they'd be assholes regardless of the subject.

 

[mattpegher]

Given the rate of technological advancement and how it has grown exponentially over the last 3000 years, the next 3000 years will determine if man expands beyond the solar system or destroys itself. Likely hood is if we devistate this planet, it will take several hundred thousand years before a new species will be able to evolve into a technologic being.

 

[imported_nightfox]

It will go up to December 21, 2012

 

[oiprocs]

Originally posted by: RichUK
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: shaytahn
Okay, so it's fair to say that the Earth won't be expiring anytime soon. If thinking about something like this is worthless, why do people talk so much about an afterlife or those who are religious talk of what happens after you die? If we are all so unsure of things, then why doesn't everyone just live their life as happily as they can while they can?

It doesn't make sense that we can make statements about what will or won't happen when the truth is nobody knows. Why are people ignorant of this, or why do they think that a book tells everything about the world? This is not supposed to be about religion; I'm just trying to see if I can get to the idea that since there is so much uncertainty, everyone pretty much just choose what it is they will do with their life. That's why I have trouble understanding why others don't "live and let live"?</end quote></div>

You?re going off on a totally different tangent.

Next you?ll be asking "what's the meaning of life?".

I change the subject too when I don't understand. :thumbsup:

Originally posted by: hjo3
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: shaytahn
It doesn't make sense that we can make statements about what will or won't happen when the truth is nobody knows.</end quote></div>
But speculation is fun. Some people take it too seriously and insist they know for sure, but they'd be assholes regardless of the subject.

Bingo. I feel like that sums up my whole thought process that, since we are so unsure of time on Earth, we thus cannot make any conclusive statements about what will or will not happen. Your clarity is appreciated hjo3. :beer: for you!

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: jimbob200521
The earth will most likely die from something like an asteroid or something as stupid as us blowing it up...I see both as being equally possible in the next 1-1,000,000 years.

WE won't/can't blow it up and the chance of an asteroid big enough to pulverize the planet hitting us is very small. The earth probably will last for another 5 billion years until the sun goes red giant and swallows it.

Humanity will disappear LONG before then.

 

[shortylickens]

Well, since we made it past August 29, 1997 I dont know.

If there was some way I could be sure things will work out alright, I would only feel comfortable going about 50 years ahead at a time.
If things are just going keep getting worse and worse, then I would rather go back to the 80's and enjoy my childhood again.
Didnt even realize how good life was during the prosperous Reagan years.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Mallarddrake44
it was 128 degrees in California yesterday and its not even the hottest part of summer yet...maybe global warming could be taken into consideration

Where the hell in California was it 128 degrees? Death Valley? Where noone lives? Where those kind of temperatures are commonplace? Nice way to stoke the global warming troll flames, though.


According to this, July is the hottest month of the year for Death Valley.

Death Valley is generally sunny, dry and clear throughout the year. The winters are mild with occasional winter storms, but summers are extremely hot and dry. In fact, Death Valley is one of the hottest places on earth, attaining the highest temperature ever recorded in the U.S., 134 degrees F. on July 10, 1913. Summer high temperatures commonly run above 120 degrees F. Comfortable clothing providing sun protection and a broad brimmed hat are recommended in summer. Winter requires warmer clothing and light to medium jackets. Sturdy walking shoes are important year round.
Weather Data for Furnace Creek, CA
(Elev. 178 feet below sea level - Degrees F.) Month Avg. Max. Temp. Avg. Min. Temp. Avg. Precipitation
January 64.6 39.1 0.24"
February 72.3 45.6 0.33"
March 80.4 52.8 0.24"
April 89.8 61.9 0.12"
May 99.3 70.7 0.07"
June 109.0 80.3 0.03"
July 115.3 87.8 0.11"
August 113.2 85.0 0.12"
September 105.8 74.9 0.11"
October 92.0 61.6 0.09"
November 75.7 48.1 0.19"
December 65.1 39.4 0.19"
ANNUAL 90.1 62.2 1.84"

Most rainfall is blocked by the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west, accounting for Death Valley's extreme aridity. In fact, Death Valley averages less than 2 inches of rainfall a year. For a recent 50-year period, the average annual rainfall at Furnace Creek was only 1.66 inches. But high temperatures and low humidity account for an extremely high evaporation rate. In fact, in Death Valley, the evaporation rate is 128 inches annually, 77 times the precipitation rate.