Here’s an Interesting Concept
Once again, I stumble upon something truly worthy of contemplation from the excremental depths of Yahoo! “news.” This time, the question is, “How long would it take for humans to go extinct if we suddenly stopped having babies?” It’s utterly unimaginable, yet irresistibly intriguing. So, why not dive headfirst into this alternate reality and throw in a few twists for good measure? Let’s explore the what-ifs and see where this rabbit hole leads us!
What might happen if there were absolutely no more babies being welcomed into this vast world? Well, eventually, the entire human race would face extinction, and then—just like that—in the blink of an eye, no more Homo sapiens roaming the Earth! At least, that’s what the historic timeline of this planet's existence would suggest. How many years do you think humans would manage to hang on here? 100, 80, or maybe even 60years tops? My guess leans toward something closer to under 50 years before we fade away.
“What brought me to this conclusion”, you ask?
Let’s look at this through the eyes of someone from Gen X.
First, life will likely continue as usual for approximately 30 more years, given that there will still be a handful of able-bodied individuals who possess the knowledge and skills necessary to live self-sufficiently. During this period, those who have been dedicated to foraging and farming will gradually age, and their bodies will inevitably become less cooperative, making it increasingly difficult—or even impossible—for them to tend to gardens and care for animals that provide essential food for themselves and others. Additionally, I foresee that anyone dependent on modern modes of transportation will soon find themselves approaching the end of an era, facing unforeseen challenges. There will be critical shortages of able workers to maintain oil fields, refineries, power stations, and other infrastructures that support the “modern” lifestyle we’ve grown so reliant upon. Anything dependent on petroleum will essentially vanish once “the oil dries up.” Moreover, the shortage of healthcare professionals and caretakers for the elderly will become glaringly apparent, as many of the younger generations growing up will have little to no understanding or education on productivity and essential survival skills. The inevitable shutdown of most power plants will mean cell phones and the internet will cease to exist, leaving us without the technological luxuries we've come to expect. And don’t even bring up the idea that “the computers” will keep things running smoothly, because despite the reality of humanoid robots today, their capabilities remain quite limited and far from replacing human labor in the demanding tasks ahead.
What if, in the not-so-distant future, we find ourselves served by these ever-evolving robots? Would they genuinely listen to our needs and whims, or would they cunningly begin manufacturing legions of themselves, ultimately pushing the soon-to-be extinct human race off the stage? My money’s on the latter scenario, no contest. Maybe, just maybe, they’d take over roles of able-bodied workers, especially in utility sectors—meaning your oil production keeps humming, and yes, your electric grid and cell phone would still function. But pause and think for a moment: who will actually supply our food when humans are sidelined? Can you honestly count on your grandchildren to pick up the slack? Given what we observe in today’s dwindling pool of capable humans, the outlook is grim. In summation, we are so utterly and irreversibly screwed!
Moving along to year 31, I will be 83 by then and hopefully still able to provide for myself without too much trouble. There are certainly many young people who can, and do, have an outstanding work ethic, which is encouraging. But the real question is, are there enough of them to sustain the remaining human population in the long haul? By this time, the last to be born are all over 30 and well into the prime of their lives, full of energy and potential! The means of survival and standard of living will be vastly different—think miles away—from what we know today. So, what will become of these so-called “last generation” of humans? For dramatic effect, we’ll call them Generation “Omega.” Sure, all of this might sound like the plot of a bad sci-fi movie, and it’s admittedly a farfetched concept, but hey—what if?
Entering into the 45-year mark, society can evolve in many different and unexpected ways. Anyone alive over the age of 40 today will, by then, be in their late 80s or early 90s and, presumably, no longer able to provide for themselves in the traditional sense. In all due conclusions, those currently over 20 years old will be struggling to maintain self-sufficiency, increasingly relying on the “youngsters” — who themselves are just trying to survive — to keep them alive and well. The world population is projected to be nearing 2 billion, assuming there have been no major wars or catastrophic events, and that humans have somehow managed to remain kind and cooperative with one another (a rather optimistic stretch of the imagination, I know). How many of these people will actually be able to conduct themselves without the constant aid of cell phones, which dictate their every move and decision? The majority of large buildings and homes will have been reduced to unsafe, crumbling structures, and many of the so-called “newest” homes will be dilapidated at best, since petroleum products—essential for maintaining the standard of living they once took for granted—will no longer be available or affordable.
With Generation Omega finally reaching the twilight of their retirement years, and with no younger generations around to step up and lend a helping hand, who’s to say they’ll be truly capable of sustaining their own existence? By now, any ammunition left is most likely nothing more than useless scrap, while the mass-produced “survival” foods have degraded to the point of being completely inedible. Meanwhile, the wildlife population hasn’t just grown—it’s exploded, now vastly outnumbering humans. On a brighter note, the air has miraculously cleaned itself, and the waters have returned to a state clean enough to drink without any advanced filtration, believe it or not. Once barren farmlands have now been overtaken by thriving saplings, while the last remaining hand tools have long since seized up, starved of lubricants and care. Yes, these last few humans certainly have a monumental struggle ahead in the dwindling days of Homo sapiens. Perhaps, just perhaps, the humanoid robots will show a shred of mercy and take good care of them when mankind finally reaches its end.
