10 Extinction Level Event Scenarios - How Do You Wanna Go?

The realms of science fiction have been scoffed at by many, but a lot of what writers have said has transpired in later times. Who know what the future holds? So, this may be an ELE for Sci-fi fans, but we are discovering planetary systems on a regular basis now and the odds of life existing elsewhere are increasing steadily. We would like to think that a species able to cross the vastness of outer-space and reach us would not be aggressive monsters wishing to conquer, enslave or destroy us. Who would want to come all that way just to be so vile? After all, when Europeans first discovered America, that was a peaceful process, wasn't it?

Whether this would be your ELE of choice might depends on many things. Firstly, is it going to be quick and painless? If Earth is making way for a new interstellar highway it will be over in an instant. However, War of The Worlds and others such stories have it another way, and we could even end up on the plates of our conquerors if you are to believe TV series like “V”. As for yet another Dalek Invasion of Earth - No thank you!

Watch the Earth destroyed by an alien laser

A robot takeover of the planet is the much loved premise of many a sci-fi fable, from the aggressive Terminators, through Skynet to the benign sentience of the beings in Artificial Intelligence. But how likely is it? After all machines follow our instructions, they don't actually think for themselves, do they?

The simple answer is not yet, but watch this space. The main thrust of research in to artificial intelligence is to create a machine that can solve problems not only independently of human intervention, but crucially, solve these problems creatively. When that happens some say that we are up the creek without a paddle.

Watch a possible robot warrior of the future

We, humanity, are unique in one thing. We alone among all the fauna of the planet have devised a way to wipe ourselves off the face of the planet swiftly and horribly. The intelligence that has enabled us to do this is what sets us apart from all other animals of Earth - and we think we're special. There have been two instances of bombs of this nature set off in a war scenario - and apologists for this aside - Hiroshima and Nagasaki triggered the most obscene arms race the world has ever seen.

An ELE of choice? Well, you would have to hope that you were as near to the epicenter as possible if there was a large scale nuclear war because you wouldn't have a very happy time of it if you survived (no matter what “Jericho” maintains!). If the radiation didn't get you as a survivor, then starvation will as the bombs will create so much dust that the sun will not be able to penetrate the atmosphere for several years. This will create what is known as a nuclear winter, where crops will not grow and the food chain will effectively collapse. Deeply unpleasant.

Watch a possible World War Three scenario

Disease microbes - you can't see them, you can't smell them and they give no warning. However, they can build themselves up in to unspeakable numbers over the course of hours or days and they are designed to take full advantage of any weakness their enemies (us!) may have! In the fourteenth century the Black Death arrived in Europe and destroyed over a third of the population in a matter of years - and each time I t reappeared it had a similar effect.

We probably don't have to worry about Bubonic Plague. However, the big frightener at the moment is something we don't really seem to be taking seriously - and that is influenza. In 1918 a strain of the flu killed fifty million people worldwide. We had the last global flu epidemic over forty years ago and another one is long overdue. Estimates say the next one could be worse than the 1918 disaster. Plus diseases have been made in to weapons, such as anthrax. Old friends like TB are developing resistance to antibiotics. As an ELE this would not be a pleasurable - or a pretty - way to go. No thank you!

Watch Two Epidemic Scenarios for the USA

For any sticklers out there, yes, strictly speaking we in fact still inhabit the Ice Age. As a species we haven't been around for very long and our records go back six thousand years ago, getting less and less dependable as we go back - in scientific terms. What we are in now is an interstadial period. That means a warmer period and it is something that has lasted around twelve thousand years. Plenty of time for us to get comfortable and think that our climate is steady and reliable. Time to think again!