Stephen Hawking once predicted that by the year 2600, humanity could face a catastrophic fate if population growth and energy consumption continue unchecked. In a talk at the Tencent WE Summit in 2017, Hawking explained that Earth might transform into a “giant ball of fire” if these trends persist. He warned that the world’s population would grow to the point where people would be standing shoulder to shoulder, and energy consumption would render the planet unbearably hot.
Hawking pointed to global warming, climate change, and the greenhouse effect as primary risks to Earth’s future, emphasizing that “exponential growth cannot continue into the next millennium.” Although his claims have been associated with NASA in recent discussions, the space agency clarified that it has not endorsed this specific prediction. However, NASA acknowledged that it shares concerns over global threats, including environmental factors that could influence Earth’s future.
Alongside climate concerns, Hawking had also warned about other existential threats such as nuclear warfare, artificial intelligence, and pandemics—several of which have continued to pose serious risks in recent years. His insights have prompted ongoing debates around sustainability and the need for humanity to alter its course to avoid irreversible damage.
In interviews before his death, Hawking stressed that while the yearly chance of a global disaster may be low, these risks accumulate over centuries, making it almost certain that such events could occur within the next 1,000 to 10,000 years unless significant changes are made.
