A Nobel Prize-winning physicist has offered a stark prediction for when humanity could face extinction — and it is far sooner than many might expect. David Gross is an American theoreticalphysicistand string theorist who, in 2004, alongside Frank Wilczek and Hugh David Politzer, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of asymptotic freedom.
In his assessment, David — who recently received the $3 million (about £2,220,000) Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics — pointed to the alarming risks posed bynuclearwarfare and the relentless advance ofartificial intelligence(AI). During a recent interview discussingphysics, David was asked whether humanity would be closer to achieving a “unified theory” within 50 years. His response was bleak. He toldLiveScience:"Currently, I spend part of my time trying to tell people … that the chances of you living 50 [more] years are very small. Due to the danger of nuclear war, you have about 35 years.”
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David acknowledged that this was a “crude estimate”, but suggested that global catastrophe could occur as early as 2061. He emphasised the dangers of a world with “nine nuclear powers” and “three super nuclear powers”.
He toldLiveScience:"Even after the Cold War ended, (when) we had strategic arms control treaties, all of which have disappeared, there were estimates there was a 1 per cent chance of nuclear war (each year).
“Things have gotten so much worse in the last 30 years, as you can see every time you read the newspaper. I feel it's not a rigorous estimate, that the chances are more likely 2 per cent. So that's a 1-in-50 chance every year.
“The expected lifetime, in the case of 2 per cent (per year), is about 35 years.”
When asked what could be done to reduce the risk, David stressed the importance of international dialogue, warning that the erosion of nuclear treaties has heightened global instability.
He pointed to ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the war betweenRussiaandUkraine, as well as tensions involving the US,Israeland Iran, in addition to long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan. He also noted that managing three nuclear superpowers is “infinitely more complicated” than dealing with two.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
