I fear we are soon to learn the solution to Fermi's paradox - if there are so many habitable planets, and life apt to originate as a matter of chemistry and thermodynamics, why is the Milky Way so quiet? Perhaps civilizations have a natural life-history, in which they alter their biosphere beyond habitability, before attaining a level of maturity necessary for different behavior.

There's hope so long as there's existence, but the real question is whether it's a guttering candle or a shining sun -- or where on that continuum it is.

Human society and the biosphere are complex systems, which tend to be remarkably resilient but also indifferent to short-term suffering and chaos. It is hard to predict the long term outcome. And there are of course always scenarios where dystopian or life-as-we-know-it-ending tipping points are reached.

My empathy and compassion for my fellow humans is unabated -- especially for individuals -- but I have grave concerns about our long-term viability as a group. I am one of those who suspects that the explanation for the Fermi Paradox is that there are very few societies that develop technology who don't render themselves extinct with it, due to a lack of maturity in use of said tech.

Of course there is !!!!! That's actually the ONLY thing we have !!!

No.

No.

No.

If humankind can take a step back and look at the big picture, and make some adjustments, we'll be all right. If we keep going as we are, without anyone checking us, we could very well destroy humanity as we know it.