281–282 of 282 posts
Well, this is why we should leave an easily visible monument on the moon, so if and when the next civ evolves on Earth they will know we existed.
It's implausible that a species would develop an industrial civilization and then get killed off in an event that doesn't wipe out every other species of vertebrate. A species with human-level technology could survive even the Chicxulub asteroid that killed off non-avian dinosaurs, given the huge population and vast range that industrial civilization enables that species to attain, as well as the diverse array of ene…
Similarly why climate change won't be existential crisis for human race. Civilization maybe, but for the race no. Getting rid of every member of species that is adapted to wide range of environments and globally spread might be impossible. And likely they would at least leave some evidence somewhere. It is not like every surface of planet has gone through ice ages or other events grinding away the top soil.
That humans could be reduced back to scattered pre-industrial tribes, many people would call an "existential" crisis. Even if a species of animal called Homo Sapiens would still survive.
I think a lot of people would disagree that this is a good outcome, even if some humans are still alive and wondering around.