Top Ten Ways Humans May Cause Their Own Extinction

are we our own worst enemies welcome to

are we our own worst enemies welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting

watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten ways

down our picks for the top ten ways

down our picks for the top ten ways humans may cause their own extinction

humans may cause their own extinction

humans may cause their own extinction before we begin we publish new videos

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more great content for this list we’re

more great content for this list we’re looking at apocalyptic scenarios that

looking at apocalyptic scenarios that

looking at apocalyptic scenarios that could wipe out our species one day human

could wipe out our species one day human

could wipe out our species one day human decisions are removed from strategic

decisions are removed from strategic

decisions are removed from strategic defense Skynet begins to learn at a

defense Skynet begins to learn at a

defense Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate number 10 lack of

geometric rate number 10 lack of

geometric rate number 10 lack of resources the earth’s resources are

resources the earth’s resources are

resources the earth’s resources are limited given our increasing population

limited given our increasing population

limited given our increasing population resource shortages could lead to major

resource shortages could lead to major

resource shortages could lead to major global crises many experts think that

global crises many experts think that

global crises many experts think that oil production has already peaked or

oil production has already peaked or

oil production has already peaked or will peak no later than 2040 the good

will peak no later than 2040 the good

will peak no later than 2040 the good news is that past predictions have been

news is that past predictions have been

news is that past predictions have been countered by new technologies and

countered by new technologies and

countered by new technologies and reserves the bad news is that fossil

reserves the bad news is that fossil

reserves the bad news is that fossil fuels are a finite resource they have to

fuels are a finite resource they have to

fuels are a finite resource they have to run out eventually another source of

run out eventually another source of

run out eventually another source of potential crisis comes from food and

potential crisis comes from food and

potential crisis comes from food and water shortages currently 1.2 billion

water shortages currently 1.2 billion

water shortages currently 1.2 billion people lack access to potable water

people lack access to potable water

people lack access to potable water pollution and climate change threatened

pollution and climate change threatened

pollution and climate change threatened to increase that number and severely

to increase that number and severely

to increase that number and severely limit agricultural production such

limit agricultural production such

limit agricultural production such shortages could spark resource Wars with

shortages could spark resource Wars with

shortages could spark resource Wars with the potential to broaden into global

the potential to broaden into global

the potential to broaden into global conflicts number 9 experimental

conflicts number 9 experimental

conflicts number 9 experimental technologies you know what that means

technologies you know what that means

technologies you know what that means David

David

David no what does that mean World War three

no what does that mean World War three

no what does that mean World War three why haven’t we encountered intelligent

why haven’t we encountered intelligent

why haven’t we encountered intelligent extraterrestrial life when there are

extraterrestrial life when there are

extraterrestrial life when there are billions of planets in our galaxy one

billions of planets in our galaxy one

billions of planets in our galaxy one proposed explanation is that

proposed explanation is that

proposed explanation is that civilizations inevitably destroy

civilizations inevitably destroy

civilizations inevitably destroy themselves when they become too

themselves when they become too

themselves when they become too technologically advanced this scenario

technologically advanced this scenario

technologically advanced this scenario was explored in Kurt Vonnegut’s novel

was explored in Kurt Vonnegut’s novel

was explored in Kurt Vonnegut’s novel cat’s cradle in which the fictional

cat’s cradle in which the fictional

cat’s cradle in which the fictional material ice 9 crystallizes all water on

material ice 9 crystallizes all water on

material ice 9 crystallizes all water on earth so far fears of experiments turned

earth so far fears of experiments turned

earth so far fears of experiments turned apocalyptic have proven unfounded the

apocalyptic have proven unfounded the

apocalyptic have proven unfounded the first nuclear tests did not ignite the

first nuclear tests did not ignite the

first nuclear tests did not ignite the atmosphere and ion and hadron colliders

atmosphere and ion and hadron colliders

atmosphere and ion and hadron colliders haven’t created false vacuums or black

haven’t created false vacuums or black

haven’t created false vacuums or black holes yet nor have self-replicating

holes yet nor have self-replicating

holes yet nor have self-replicating nanobots eaten the earth but as we

nanobots eaten the earth but as we

nanobots eaten the earth but as we pursue ever more sophisticated

pursue ever more sophisticated

pursue ever more sophisticated experiments in molecular and particle

experiments in molecular and particle

experiments in molecular and particle physics is there a danger of unforeseen

physics is there a danger of unforeseen

physics is there a danger of unforeseen consequences number 8 geoengineering

consequences number 8 geoengineering

consequences number 8 geoengineering [Music]

[Music]

[Music] welcome to the desert otherwise known as

welcome to the desert otherwise known as

welcome to the desert otherwise known as climate engineering geoengineering

climate engineering geoengineering

climate engineering geoengineering refers to human manipulation of the

refers to human manipulation of the

refers to human manipulation of the planet’s climate system as a preventive

planet’s climate system as a preventive

planet’s climate system as a preventive measure to counteract global warming

measure to counteract global warming

measure to counteract global warming climate scientists predict that the

climate scientists predict that the

climate scientists predict that the effects of global warming could be

effects of global warming could be

effects of global warming could be disastrous how far would we go to stave

disastrous how far would we go to stave

disastrous how far would we go to stave off catastrophe some researchers backed

off catastrophe some researchers backed

off catastrophe some researchers backed by Bill Gates Richard Branson and other

by Bill Gates Richard Branson and other

by Bill Gates Richard Branson and other billionaires have proposed the injection

billionaires have proposed the injection

billionaires have proposed the injection of sulfate aerosols into the

of sulfate aerosols into the

of sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere to manage solar radiation

stratosphere to manage solar radiation

stratosphere to manage solar radiation creating a global dimming effect such a

creating a global dimming effect such a

creating a global dimming effect such a solution is dramatized in the movie

solution is dramatized in the movie

solution is dramatized in the movie snowpiercer

snowpiercer

snowpiercer in which the process plunges earth into

in which the process plunges earth into

in which the process plunges earth into a new ice age who got turned into

a new ice age who got turned into

a new ice age who got turned into popsicles critics of climate engineering

popsicles critics of climate engineering

popsicles critics of climate engineering argue that it could have unpredictable

argue that it could have unpredictable

argue that it could have unpredictable consequences and create irreversible

consequences and create irreversible

consequences and create irreversible side-effects number seven food shortages

side-effects number seven food shortages

side-effects number seven food shortages [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

in the fictional future depicted by

in the fictional future depicted by interstellar a devastating blight has

interstellar a devastating blight has

interstellar a devastating blight has afflicted crops resulting in widespread

afflicted crops resulting in widespread

afflicted crops resulting in widespread food shortages coal will die soon but

food shortages coal will die soon but

food shortages coal will die soon but according to the UN we are heading

according to the UN we are heading

according to the UN we are heading towards a global food crisis even

towards a global food crisis even

towards a global food crisis even without such a calamity by the year 2030

without such a calamity by the year 2030

without such a calamity by the year 2030 we’ll need 50% more food and 30% more

we’ll need 50% more food and 30% more

we’ll need 50% more food and 30% more water

water

water a 2012 UN report warned that current

a 2012 UN report warned that current

a 2012 UN report warned that current development models are unsustainable and

development models are unsustainable and

development models are unsustainable and that only a drastic reduction of the

that only a drastic reduction of the

that only a drastic reduction of the consumption of animal products could

consumption of animal products could

consumption of animal products could change our course of course the hardest

change our course of course the hardest

change our course of course the hardest hit will be those in developing

hit will be those in developing

hit will be those in developing countries in the approximately 800

countries in the approximately 800

countries in the approximately 800 million people already suffering chronic

million people already suffering chronic

million people already suffering chronic undernourishment number 6 overpopulation

undernourishment number 6 overpopulation

undernourishment number 6 overpopulation since the 1970s the planet’s population

since the 1970s the planet’s population

since the 1970s the planet’s population has more than doubled reaching a

has more than doubled reaching a

has more than doubled reaching a staggering seven-and-a-half billion in

staggering seven-and-a-half billion in

staggering seven-and-a-half billion in 2017 how many people can the earth

2017 how many people can the earth

2017 how many people can the earth sustain the answer depends on a range of

sustain the answer depends on a range of

sustain the answer depends on a range of factors but the median estimate is

factors but the median estimate is

factors but the median estimate is around 10 billion if everyone consumed

around 10 billion if everyone consumed

around 10 billion if everyone consumed as much as the average American this

as much as the average American this

as much as the average American this would reduce to about 2.5 billion such

would reduce to about 2.5 billion such

would reduce to about 2.5 billion such figures led the late Australian

figures led the late Australian

figures led the late Australian scientist Frank Fenner to predict that

scientist Frank Fenner to predict that

scientist Frank Fenner to predict that humans will be extinct within the next

humans will be extinct within the next

humans will be extinct within the next 100 years

100 years

100 years he drew a parallel to what happened on

he drew a parallel to what happened on

he drew a parallel to what happened on Easter Island where overcrowding

Easter Island where overcrowding

Easter Island where overcrowding resulted in conflicts over resources

resulted in conflicts over resources

resulted in conflicts over resources that weakened the population after which

that weakened the population after which

that weakened the population after which Europeans all but finished them off

Europeans all but finished them off

Europeans all but finished them off similarly we may one day surpass the

similarly we may one day surpass the

similarly we may one day surpass the planets carrying capacity number five

planets carrying capacity number five

planets carrying capacity number five air pollution

air pollution

air pollution [Music]

[Music]

[Music] on dry days Beijing is shrouded in dense

on dry days Beijing is shrouded in dense

on dry days Beijing is shrouded in dense smog between 2004 and 2014 the incidence

smog between 2004 and 2014 the incidence

smog between 2004 and 2014 the incidence of lung cancer almost doubled if we

of lung cancer almost doubled if we

of lung cancer almost doubled if we continue to burn fossil fuels at current

continue to burn fossil fuels at current

continue to burn fossil fuels at current rates what will happen to the air we

rates what will happen to the air we

rates what will happen to the air we breathe

breathe

breathe does the dark cloud over Beijing

does the dark cloud over Beijing

does the dark cloud over Beijing foreshadow the fate of other

foreshadow the fate of other

foreshadow the fate of other industrialized cities around the world

industrialized cities around the world

industrialized cities around the world well there are several survival tools

well there are several survival tools

well there are several survival tools for living in Beijing first of course

for living in Beijing first of course

for living in Beijing first of course there’s the mass in 2014 the World

there’s the mass in 2014 the World

there’s the mass in 2014 the World Health Organization estimated that air

Health Organization estimated that air

Health Organization estimated that air pollution caused the deaths of seven

pollution caused the deaths of seven

pollution caused the deaths of seven million people in 2012 alone air

million people in 2012 alone air

million people in 2012 alone air pollution is linked to heart disease

pollution is linked to heart disease

pollution is linked to heart disease lung cancer and respiratory infections

lung cancer and respiratory infections

lung cancer and respiratory infections particularly in children in developing

particularly in children in developing

particularly in children in developing countries and it isn’t just that we

countries and it isn’t just that we

countries and it isn’t just that we might poison ourselves air pollution

might poison ourselves air pollution

might poison ourselves air pollution contributes to global warming and

contributes to global warming and

contributes to global warming and extinctions endangering local and global

extinctions endangering local and global

extinctions endangering local and global ecosystems number four biological

ecosystems number four biological

ecosystems number four biological warfare in the 14th century

warfare in the 14th century

warfare in the 14th century the Black Death killed some 75 to 200

the Black Death killed some 75 to 200

the Black Death killed some 75 to 200 million people in Eurasia engineered

million people in Eurasia engineered

million people in Eurasia engineered diseases designed deliberately for mass

diseases designed deliberately for mass

diseases designed deliberately for mass destruction could prove even more

destruction could prove even more

destruction could prove even more devastating than past pandemics

devastating than past pandemics

devastating than past pandemics biological weapons can easily get out of

biological weapons can easily get out of

biological weapons can easily get out of control although the Geneva Protocol of

control although the Geneva Protocol of

control although the Geneva Protocol of 1925 banned their use this didn’t stop

1925 banned their use this didn’t stop

1925 banned their use this didn’t stop the Japanese from testing them on

the Japanese from testing them on

the Japanese from testing them on prisoners and bombing China with plague

prisoners and bombing China with plague

prisoners and bombing China with plague carrying fleas during World War two like

carrying fleas during World War two like

carrying fleas during World War two like a Nazi counterparts they were never

a Nazi counterparts they were never

a Nazi counterparts they were never brought to justice nor did it prevent

brought to justice nor did it prevent

brought to justice nor did it prevent the UK and us from weaponizing anthrax

the UK and us from weaponizing anthrax

the UK and us from weaponizing anthrax and other bio agents producing

and other bio agents producing

and other bio agents producing biological weapons has been outlawed

biological weapons has been outlawed

biological weapons has been outlawed since 1972 but in 2011 researchers

since 1972 but in 2011 researchers

since 1972 but in 2011 researchers engineered an airborne strain of avian

engineered an airborne strain of avian

engineered an airborne strain of avian influenza raising fears that a man-made

influenza raising fears that a man-made

influenza raising fears that a man-made pandemic could also be triggered

pandemic could also be triggered

pandemic could also be triggered accidentally Jory don’t touch anything

accidentally Jory don’t touch anything

accidentally Jory don’t touch anything help me number three climate change

the movie The Day After Tomorrow shows

the movie The Day After Tomorrow shows climate change as a sudden immediate

climate change as a sudden immediate

climate change as a sudden immediate global catastrophe with super storms

global catastrophe with super storms

global catastrophe with super storms freezing half the planet’s solid within

freezing half the planet’s solid within

freezing half the planet’s solid within days in reality global warming is

days in reality global warming is

days in reality global warming is predicted to race temperatures by just a

predicted to race temperatures by just a

predicted to race temperatures by just a few degrees over the course of decades

few degrees over the course of decades

few degrees over the course of decades however this alone is projected to mess

however this alone is projected to mess

however this alone is projected to mess with the weather threaten fragile

with the weather threaten fragile

with the weather threaten fragile ecosystems and raise sea levels high

ecosystems and raise sea levels high

ecosystems and raise sea levels high enough to inundate many coastal areas

enough to inundate many coastal areas

enough to inundate many coastal areas potentially causing a massive refugee

potentially causing a massive refugee

potentially causing a massive refugee crisis 97% of climate studies claim that

crisis 97% of climate studies claim that

crisis 97% of climate studies claim that the planet is warming due to human

the planet is warming due to human

the planet is warming due to human activity to be fair fossil fuel

activity to be fair fossil fuel

activity to be fair fossil fuel companies disagree meanwhile

companies disagree meanwhile

companies disagree meanwhile government’s have struggled to agree on

government’s have struggled to agree on

government’s have struggled to agree on specific actions timetables or measures

specific actions timetables or measures

specific actions timetables or measures of enforcement but if scientific

of enforcement but if scientific

of enforcement but if scientific consensus is right we are already in

consensus is right we are already in

consensus is right we are already in trouble if this were to go sea level

trouble if this were to go sea level

trouble if this were to go sea level worldwide would go up 20 feet number 2

worldwide would go up 20 feet number 2

worldwide would go up 20 feet number 2 thermonuclear war

after witnessing the dark mushroom cloud

after witnessing the dark mushroom cloud of the first atomic bomb its creator J

of the first atomic bomb its creator J

of the first atomic bomb its creator J robert Oppenheimer remarked quote now I

robert Oppenheimer remarked quote now I

robert Oppenheimer remarked quote now I am become death the destroyer of worlds

am become death the destroyer of worlds

am become death the destroyer of worlds fortunately the number of nukes in the

fortunately the number of nukes in the

fortunately the number of nukes in the world has fallen from 70,000 in 1986 to

world has fallen from 70,000 in 1986 to

world has fallen from 70,000 in 1986 to around 15,000 but scientists recently

around 15,000 but scientists recently

around 15,000 but scientists recently concluded that even a regional nuclear

concluded that even a regional nuclear

concluded that even a regional nuclear conflict could have devastating

conflict could have devastating

conflict could have devastating consequences blocking the Sun with soot

consequences blocking the Sun with soot

consequences blocking the Sun with soot and ripping holes in the ozone layer in

and ripping holes in the ozone layer in

and ripping holes in the ozone layer in 2017 scientists moved the Doomsday Clock

2017 scientists moved the Doomsday Clock

2017 scientists moved the Doomsday Clock symbolic of our proximity to global

symbolic of our proximity to global

symbolic of our proximity to global catastrophe forward to two and a half

catastrophe forward to two and a half

catastrophe forward to two and a half minutes to midnight can we pull back

minutes to midnight can we pull back

minutes to midnight can we pull back from the brink

number one artificial intelligence this

number one artificial intelligence this mission is too important for me to allow

mission is too important for me to allow

mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it the idea of robots

you to jeopardize it the idea of robots

you to jeopardize it the idea of robots turning on their makers is a popular

turning on their makers is a popular

turning on their makers is a popular trope in science fiction but a number of

trope in science fiction but a number of

trope in science fiction but a number of leading scientists tech mogul and

leading scientists tech mogul and

leading scientists tech mogul and philosophers fear that these

philosophers fear that these

philosophers fear that these dramatizations could also be prophetic

dramatizations could also be prophetic

dramatizations could also be prophetic in 2014

in 2014

in 2014 Stephen Hawking warned that artificial

Stephen Hawking warned that artificial

Stephen Hawking warned that artificial intelligence could spell the end of the

intelligence could spell the end of the

intelligence could spell the end of the human race even Elon Musk whose

human race even Elon Musk whose

human race even Elon Musk whose businesses are reliant on technological

businesses are reliant on technological

businesses are reliant on technological innovation characterizes AI as our

innovation characterizes AI as our

innovation characterizes AI as our greatest existential threat I am

greatest existential threat I am

greatest existential threat I am concerned about certain directions that

concerned about certain directions that

concerned about certain directions that I could take that would be not good for

I could take that would be not good for

I could take that would be not good for the future the fear is that once

the future the fear is that once

the future the fear is that once artificial intelligence learns to

artificial intelligence learns to

artificial intelligence learns to self-improve it could lead to a runaway

self-improve it could lead to a runaway

self-improve it could lead to a runaway reaction where machines quickly

reaction where machines quickly

reaction where machines quickly supersede us and what happens when

supersede us and what happens when

supersede us and what happens when machines can out-think us watch out

machines can out-think us watch out

machines can out-think us watch out Skynet could be just around the corner

Skynet could be just around the corner

Skynet could be just around the corner it becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m.

it becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m.

it becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern Time August 29th do you agree

Eastern Time August 29th do you agree

Eastern Time August 29th do you agree with our picks check out these other

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