Why We Need to Expand into Space

Zentropa writes "Why do humans need to explore and colonize space? To save the planet and our species, argues an opinion piece in Cosmos, an Aussie science magazine. It makes some good points from an angle you may not have previously considered; for example, it's in the universe's best interest to keep us around. We make things fun. 'So what if humans pass into history? It's not just a tragedy for us, but also one for nature. Without us, there is no one to witness its infinite beauty; no one to marvel at a sunset, revel in a view, or thrill to the breaking of a wave on a beach. As the late astronomer and author Carl Sagan once said, "we are a way for the universe to know itself". But we also deserve to continue because we have created things greater than ourselves. Not only scientific and engineering knowledge, valuable as this is -- we have also created new and beautiful ways to see the world through art, music, literature and performance.'"

Comments

Ah yes. Zonk.

[Anonymous Coward]

Any excuse to mention Australia again, right? Who cares if it's the oldest question since the existence of space was first discovered and asked by every child since about 1280 AD? So long as it springboards Aussie onto the front page of Slashdot.

Means nothing

[kmac06]

If you don't believe in a creator of some sort or something greater than yourself, then human existence as something to be sustained means nothing.

go ahead and -1 offtopic

[untaken_name]

Ever read the communist manifesto? If not, you might be surprised by how many of the planks of the communist manifesto are part of American government right now. Just because Americans don't KNOW they favor communism doesn't mean they don't, in actuality. There aren't many of us who are against public schooling, income taxes, social security, welfare, etc. I am, but most of us aren't.