Civilizations, no matter how powerful, do not last – we know this from the example of the Aztecs, Mayans or even ancient Rome. And people's current lifestyle is no exception. Science portal.org speakthreats that humans may face in the future.
Alien invasion
To put it mildly, an alien attack on Earth is unlikely in the near future. Even if hostile aliens do exist, they still have a long way to go. One way or another, if some kind of space civilization attacked humanity, it would certainly have enough power to destroy the planet's population. And no, bacteria are unlikely to come to the rescue, as in “War of the Worlds” – if alien science is advanced enough for interstellar travel, then they are guaranteed to be smart enough to wear gas masks.
asteroid collision
A potential asteroid impact isn't a cause for concern on the radar, but it's more likely than an alien invasion. However, once a giant asteroid destroyed almost all life on Earth – and it didn't matter that dinosaurs could not be called “civilization”. Even with current technology, a large enough space object would cause unimaginable destruction.
Complete extinction of bees
There is a story circulating on social media that if all bees on the planet die, humans will die with them; Absurd theory was born thanks to a quote from Albert Einstein. Of course, in reality things are unlikely to be that deadly, but the extinction of bees would indeed have dire consequences. They perform the very important task of pollinating many important plants, not to mention the role of bees in nature. Humanity will not perish, but somehow humans will have to learn to live without coffee.
Artificial intelligence riot
Many science fiction books have described scenarios in which AI will escape the control of its creators and turn against humanity. Currently, such a danger is very small, but systems based on artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly popular and at some point the threat could become very real.
For example, in a future where civilization begins to rely more on robots, AI-based computer viruses could become the weapon of a hostile cyber attack. And of course, artificial intelligence, which has access to weapons of mass destruction, is no less dangerous in reality than in literature or cinema.
Quantum computer
Conventional AI might be dangerous enough on its own, but quantum technology could theoretically make a risky technology much more dangerous. Although quantum computers are far from being widely available, one day in the future they could actually exceed the performance of current supercomputers. For example, in the hands of attackers, such a system could quickly and effectively synthesize biological or chemical weapons.
Social unrest
Science says that any sufficiently complex system is at risk of reaching a breaking point, where even the smallest imbalance can lead to complete collapse. Because the complexity of such systems (e.g., our civilization) masks their vulnerability. In 2000, scientists warned that, according to mathematical forecasts, human population growth would slow down, and in the 2050s the world would be rocked by a severe economic crisis. In terms of context, economics and population growth are two key aspects of civilizations in general.
Epidemic
One might think that the recent COVID-19 pandemic would prompt humanity to collectively increase health measures, but the reality has shown the opposite. If there is another global pandemic in the future, just as contagious but more deadly, this disease could very well kill enough people to destroy society.
Furthermore, such a risk was predicted long ago – it was simply ignored until recently. Molecular biologist and Nobel laureate Joshua Lederberg lamented in 1988 that people were completely unconcerned about major epidemics. He also warned that viruses and bacteria are dangerous opponents that are constantly growing and evolving.
Climate change
Scientists have warned for more than a century that emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere could irreversibly change the Earth. Rising average temperatures, hotter summers, melting sea ice, severe droughts, wildfires, strong storms and winter storms are all signs that global warming is not a myth. Efforts to agree on limiting carbon emissions at the international level have so far come to nothing. Scientific article after scientific article describes the countless negative impacts of warming on agriculture, human health, and social life.
Of course, efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change can save humanity, but if they fail, the worst-case scenario of global warming is truly catastrophic. Among other things, climate issues could exacerbate other crises, such as triggering wars or contributing to the spread of infectious diseases.
