By: Denise Chow
November 12, 2018
Humanity is under threat. At least according to Sir Martin Rees, one of Britain’s most esteemed astronomers.
In his new book, “On the Future,” Rees turns his focus closer to home, examining the existential threats that face humanity over the next century. From cyberattacks to advances in biotechnology to artificial intelligence to climate change, Rees, Britain’s astronomer royal, says we are living at a critical juncture — one that could define how the human species fares.
To learn more about which technologies worry him most, his prospects for humanity’s survival and why he thinks we’ll eventually enter a period of “post-human evolution,” MACH recently sat down with Rees in New York City. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.