beyondhuman

Open full view…

Are we ready to explore the universe?

Beyond Human
Wed, 25 Feb 2015 08:02:38 GMT

Technologically speaking, we could already be exploring the nearest stars and their planets, had we built the nuclear-powered starships designed by the Orion Project in the 1960s. Instead, we use our atomic weapons to threaten other countries (and ourselves) with total destruction. Does our species' long and continuing history of violence, against other humans and animals alike, demonstrate that we're unready to travel to other worlds? Would we inevitably treat alien life-forms the same way? Or might humans' pursuit of such a (literally) higher cause itself help improve our species?