Stephen Hawking Had Warned Against New Race of 'Superhumans' That Could Destroy Humanity
Monday, October 15, 2018 IST
Stephen Hawking left a collection of articles on what he called 'the big questions' in preparation for a book that will be published on Tuesday.
New Delhi: In his Final prediction, Stephen Hawking, one of the world's best-known theoretical physicists who died seven months ago, had suggested that genetic engineering was likely to create a new species of superhuman that could destroy the humanity from beyond the grave.
Hawking, who died in March at the age of 76, left a collection of articles on what he called “the big questions”, in preparation for a book that will be published on Tuesday.
“I am sure that during this century people will discover how to modify both intelligence and instincts such as aggression,” he wrote. “Laws will probably be passed against genetic engineering with humans. But some people won’t be able to resist the temptation to improve human characteristics, such as memory, resistance to disease and length of life.”
"Once such superhumans appear, there will be significant political problems with unimproved humans, who won't be able to compete," Hawking wrote.
“I am sure that during this century people will discover how to modify both intelligence and instincts such as aggression,” he wrote.
According to a report in The Guardian, Hawking’s comments refer to techniques such as Crispr-Cas9, a DNA-editing system that was invented six years ago. The system allows scientists to modify harmful genes or add new ones.
Related Topics
Trending News & Articles
ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...
Recently posted . 219K views . 1 min read
If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...
Recently posted . 10K views . 2 min read
The Langya henipavirus has a place with a similar group of infections, including Nipah, which is known to kill up to 3/4 of people in extreme cases.
Recently posted . 6K views . 1 min read
Queen's death: The eldest of her four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 was the oldest heir apparent in British history, became king immediately...
Recently posted . 5K views . 1 min read
More in Global
While it is popularly known that Saudi Arabia is the king crude oil and a key member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), this country...
Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
Bahrain said on Sunday it had discovered extensive tight oil and deep gas resources off the west coast of the kingdom.
Recently posted. 1K views . 0 min read
Is there a way to control or stop bad dreams?
The sheets are damp with sweat. You're cold, but your heart is racing as if...
Recently posted. 958 views . 2 min read
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 4K views . 52 min read
Recently posted . 3K views . 140 min read
A recent survey by a popular matchmaking portal attempted to understand what kind of behaviours by women are not okay with men seeking life partners. This is what t...
Recently posted. 787 views . 1 min read
• The super-Earth planet — named GJ 357 d — was discovered in early 2019 owing to NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Sur...
Recently posted. 909 views . 2 min read