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Oxford University Researchers List 12 Global Risks To Human Civilization

Posted by samzenpus on from the birds-and-snakes-an-airplane-and-lenny-bruce-is-not-afraid dept.

An anonymous reader writes The 12 greatest threats to civilization have been established by Oxford University scientists, with nuclear war and extreme climate change topping the list. Published by the Global Challenges Foundation, the report explores the 12 most likely ways civilization could end. "[This research] is about how a better understanding of the magnitude of the challenges can help the world to address the risks it faces, and can help to create a path towards more sustainable development," the study's authors said. "It is a scientific assessment about the possibility of oblivion, certainly, but even more it is a call for action based on the assumption that humanity is able to rise to challenges and turn them into opportunities."

3 of 213 comments (clear)

  1. TLDR - here's the list by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 5, Informative

    Extreme climate change
    Nuclear war
    Global pandemic
    Major asteroid impact
    Super volcano
    Ecological catastrophe
    Global system catastrophe
    Synthetic biology
    Nanotechnology
    Artificial intelligence
    Future bad global governance
    Unknown consequences /karmawhoring>

    Kind of weak list, IMHO. For example, where is "overpopulation?"

  2. Re:Islam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Which of the religions mentioned figure prominently in virtually every trouble spot in the world to day? HINT: It follows the teachings of a pedophile, murdering prophet.

  3. Re:Peak oil? by itzly · · Score: 5, Informative

    We're probably already past conventional peak oil. People haven't noticed because of the glut of shale oil, but shale oil only provides a very short term solution.