Where Will Humans Live If Earth Becomes Uninhabitable?
Life in a distant future as imagined by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will be, in many ways, like life today. People will socialise, commute to work and have weekends to rest.
The only difference is that we will be living in huge spinning cylinders that closely mimic our planet, but are actually in orbit around it.
The world’s richest man, according to Forbes, is one of several prominent people who are thinking seriously about what humans might do if they ever have to develop habitats beyond Earth.
Mr Bezos’s vision is based on ideas first put forward in the 1970s by the Princeton scientist Gerard O’Neill. He proposed that humans could live in a set of twin cylinders, each measuring four miles in diameter and 16 miles in length. The cylinders counter-rotate so they keep facing the sun.
At a recent event for his space company Blue Origin, Mr Bezos suggested that a series of these colonies could be designed for specific uses: some residential, others for industry and leisure. He even proposed that some cylinders could have a lower gravitational pull so residents could “go flying with your own wings”.
The weather, he said, will be “like Maui on its best day, all year round”, referring to the picturesque Hawaiian island.
“Imagine what architecture would be like if it did not have to fulfill its primary purpose of shelter,” he told the event in Washington, DC, in May this year.
Mr Bezos is not the only person exploring the idea of living in space. As the effects of climate change become more apparent, governments, scientists and entrepreneurs across the world have started looking more seriously at concepts that were once considered more within the realm of science fiction.
“People have always shown they will do what is necessary to survive,” says Therese Griebel, deputy associate administrator for programmes at Nasa’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. “If the Earth becomes unsustainable, there will be a reason to go somewhere else.”
Vocabulary
socialise – to spend time enjoying yourself with other people, “Children go to school to learn and to socialise with friends.”
commute – to travel regularly between your home and your place of work or school, “He has a long commute on the train every morning.”
mimic – to copy or look exactly like something else, “The robot was designed to mimic human movements.”
in orbit – moving in a curved path around a planet or a star, “The moon is in orbit around the Earth.”
prominent – important, famous, or well-known, “A prominent doctor spoke on the news about health safety.”
habitats – the natural places or environments where humans, animals, or plants live, “We must protect forests because they are important habitats for birds.”
put forward – suggested an idea or plan for people to think about, “The student put forward a great idea for the school party.”
counter-rotate – to spin or turn in opposite directions at the same time, “The two wheels counter-rotate to keep the machine balanced.”
residential – an area designed for people to live in, rather than for businesses or factories, “Our house is located in a quiet, residential neighborhood.”
leisure – time when you are not working and can relax or do hobbies, “He likes to play video games during his leisure time.”
gravitational pull – the natural force that pulls objects toward each other, like the force that keeps our feet on the ground, “The moon’s gravitational pull creates the ocean tides on Earth.”
picturesque – beautiful, attractive, and looking like a lovely picture or painting, “We took many photos of the picturesque mountain village.”
fulfill its primary purpose – to do its main or most important job successfully, “The coat must fulfill its primary purpose of keeping you warm in winter.”
apparent – easy to see, notice, or understand, “It became apparent that he was sick when he started coughing.”
entrepreneurs – people who start their own businesses, especially when it involves taking financial risks, “The young entrepreneurs created a successful food delivery app.”
within the realm of – inside the area, possibility, or world of something, “Traveling to Mars is now within the realm of possibility.”
unsustainable – not able to continue at the same rate or level because it causes damage or runs out of resources, “Cutting down all the trees is an unsustainable way to get wood.”