We have a chance to no longer be subject to the whims of the cosmos

• Published in: New scientist (1971) Vol. 251; no. 3343; pp. 44 - 47
• Main Author: Mason, Chris
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: London New Scientist 17.07.2021
• Subjects: Decay rate; Dolphins; Genetic modification; Inner solar system; Red giant stars; White dwarf stars
• ISSN: 0262-4079; 2059-5387
• DOI: 10.1016/S0262-4079(21)01254-9

An interview with geneticist Chris Mason about exploring how to genetically modify human cells to help make them more resilient in space is presented. He said this is humanity's duty because of one simple fact: we're the only species that has an awareness of extinction. There could be some other species--dolphins or, who knows, maybe some primates--that think about this, but to our knowledge they don't. Plus, we're the only ones that can actually act on it. He added that when he was writing the book, he had a moment of stark sadness. He was projecting what happens over the next 5 billion years. It's estimated that the sun will become a red giant and eat up the inner planets and then slowly decay away and become a white dwarf. Most astrophysicists think we have got about 4.7 billion years before Earth becomes uninhabitable, which is a really long time.