How humans could evolve to survive in space

Carl Sagan covers the history of science and the universe in a wonderfully digestible manner and helps the reader put Earth in the context of the universe, and humans in the context of Earth. The following snippet from the first chapter is what motivates me to work every morning: "The size and age of the Cosmos are beyond ordinary human understanding. Lost somewhere between immensity and eternity is our tiny planetary home. In a cosmic perspective, most human concerns seem insignificant, even petty. And yet our species is young and curious and brave and shows much promise. In the last few millennia we have made the most astonishing and unexpected discoveries about the Cosmos and our place within it, explorations that are exhilarating to consider. They remind us that humans have evolved to wonder, that understanding is a joy, that knowledge is prerequisite to survival. I believe our future depends on how well we know this Cosmos in which we float like a mote of dust in the morning sky."

E. O. Wilson offers a way to unite all branches of knowledge for the benefit of the world and humanity, and while doing so, makes an educated guess on what humanity is likely to do with its knowledge. Chapter 12 ("To What End?"), where Wilson first discusses the notion of "volitional evolution," inspired the bulk of my talk. Some of the information in the book is dated, but keep in mind that Wilson writes this book in the late 90s—long before the biotechnological advances of the last decade.

Like Sagan, Bill Bryson delivers the history of our universe in a easy-to-understand tome. This book informs the reader how we humans have come to know the things we know and sets the stage for understanding how scientists work today. No one sells the book better than Bryson himself: "If this book has a lesson, it is that we are awfully lucky to be here—and by 'we' I mean every living thing. To attain any kind of life in this universe of ours appears to be quite an achievement. As humans we are doubly lucky, of course: We enjoy not only the privilege of existence but also the singular ability to appreciate it and even, in a multitude of ways, to make it better. It is a talent we have only barely begun to grasp."

There are still many of us who are skeptical of the reasons space exploration — why explore space when we have so many problems to deal with on Earth? In The Life and Death of Planet Earth, Ward and Brownlee give a bleak, honest reminder than our tenure on this planet is limited. Yes, I agree with those who say preservation of our home planet is necessary and should be put first on the task list; I love Earth, too. But you must also realize that the life of this planet is on a timer. What happens when a global catastrophe consumes the planet?