In a haunting 2017 speech, physicist Stephen Hawking predicted that if human population and energy use continue to rise exponentially, Earth may become an uninhabitable “ball of fire” by the year 2600. Presenting at the Tencent WE Summit, Hawking highlighted the limits of natural resources and unsustainable growth.
He described a future where the planet’s population would be crowded, and energy consumption would cause the atmosphere to heat to dangerous levels. Furthermore, the rate of scientific publishing would become impossible to keep pace with.
Hawking raised concerns about other existential threats including nuclear war, pandemics, and artificial intelligence, all of which could hasten human extinction.
He emphasized climate change’s role, warning the Earth could experience a runaway greenhouse effect similar to Venus. While NASA does not officially back Hawking’s timeline, it recognizes the importance of studying these global threats.
Hawking’s foresight serves as a sobering call for humanity to adopt sustainable practices and prevent environmental disaster.
