PROPHETURE Nine Threats

The first Three Threats are EXTERNAL: perils from beyond that threaten extinction.

1st Threat: Galactic

Black holes and other beasts lurk in interstellar crannies. The sun orbits the galactic center staring these down in a game of rushing roulette.

2nd Threat: Solar

Suns belch, bloat, and burst with unfortunate consequences for those nearby. Our sun is no exception; sooner or later its sayonara sapiens.

3rd Threat: Planetary

Our Earth/Moon combo resulted from a huge wallop as the planets formed. The cosmos can still get its rocks off - just ask the dinosaurs .

The next Three Threats are LOCAL: dangers from within that threaten existence.

4th Threat: Geologic

Earthquakes and super-volcanoes stalk the surface. Beneath, as our planet ages and cools, its magnetic field weakens. Do you like your skin regular or crispy?

The last Three Threats are LATENT: catastrophes created by sentient life itself.

7th Threat: Genocide

Detente won't deter those who seek to die. WMDs are the "Wet Masochistic Dream" of suicide bombers who want to get off with the big one.

5th Threat: Biospheric

Venus and Mars are disasters. Our atmosphere has changed several times in concert with biota and geology. We can still have a "bad air" day.

8th Threat: Ecocide

There are many ways to abuse Mother Nature, from trashing her to pigging out. And when bio-diversity dips too low, the whole ecosystem nose-dives.

6th Threat: Biologic

From microbes to monsters, evolution catered to predators with bad table manners at a bloody buffet. Now, we're the bad little monkey with a big appetite.

9th Threat: Technocide

Sci-fi can come true. But technology doesn't have to kill us; if we lost it now, most of us wouldn't survive without the heat, light, food, and water it delivers.

"The cosmos begets conciousness. But Mother Nature can be cruel. All face the Nine Threats to Sentience. Species that endure long enough to develop technology are few, but those that survive it are exceedingly rare." ... Turen

"It is the great burden of sentience that it carries within the seeds of its own destruction. While only science can save us from the first six Threats, only spirituality can save us from the last three. But spirituality needs a higher purpose than mere survival." ... Turen