"Benford-TheFarFuture" - читать интересную книгу автора (Benford Gregory)

chimps by only 1.6 percent; we lords of creation are but a hair's breadth from
the jungle. We are the third variety of chimp, and a zoologist from Alpha
Centauri would classify us without hesitation along with the common chimp of
tropical Africa and the pygmy chimp of Zaire. Most of that 1.6 percent may well
be junk, too, of no genetic importance, so the significant differences are even
smaller.

We carry genetic baggage from far back in lost time. We diverged genetically
from the Old World monkeys about 30 million years ago, from gorillas about ten
million years ago, and from the other chimps about seven million years ago. Only
40 thousand years ago did we wondrous creatures appear -- meaning our present
form, which differs in shape and style greatly from our ancestor Neanderthals.
We roved further, made finer tools, and when we moved into Neanderthal
territory, the outcome was clear; within a short while, no more Neanderthals.

No other large animal is native to all continents and breeds in all habitats,
from rainforests to deserts to the poles. Among our unique abilities which we
proudly believe led to our success, we seldom credit our propensity to kill each
other, and to destroy our environment--yet there are evolutionary arguments that
these were valuable to us once, leading to pruning of our genes and ready use of
resources.

These same traits now threaten our existence. They also imply that, if we last
into the far future, those deep elements in us will make for high drama, rueful
laughter, triumph and tragedy.

While we have surely been shaped by our environment, our escape from bondage to
our natural world is the great theme of civilization. How will this play out on
the immense scale of many millennia? The environment will surely change, both
locally on the surface of the Earth, and among the heavens. We shall change with
it.

We shall probably meet competition from other worlds, and may fall from
competition to a Darwinian doom. We could erect immense empires and play Godlike
games with vast populations. And surely we could tinker with the universe in
ingenious ways, the inquisitive chimpanzee wrestling whole worlds to suit his
desires. Once we gain great powers, we can confront challenges undreamed of by
Darwin. The universe as a whole is our ultimate opponent.

In the very long run, the astrologers may turn out to be right: our fates may be
determined by the stars. For they are doomed.

Stars are immense reservoirs of energy, dissipating their energy stores into
light as quickly as their bulk allows. Our own star is 4.3 billion years old,
almost halfway through its eleven billion year life span. After that, it shall
begin to burn heavier and heavier elements at its core, growing hotter. Its
atmospheric envelope of already incandescent gas shall heat and swell. From a
mild-mannered, yellow-white star it shall bloat into a reddened giant,
swallowing first Mercury, then Venus, then Earth and perhaps Mars.