Humanity's Future in Space

Building a multi-solar human civilization will take multi-generational space ships, but this is no large barrier, and the cosmos are doubtless teeming with earth-like planets. The chemicals of our planet(vital to our species) are EXTREMELY common throughout the galaxy and universe. My guess is there's plenty of life out there but far, far less intelligent life. Look how long it took earth to develop its first sophisticated tool-users and, with a different role of the dice, we might never have evolved anyway.

So we'll settle planets that already have life. We'll hunt the undoubtedly amazing and diverse animals, harvest the plant life,and the petroleum, etc., etc.. This might not be politically correct, but it is reality.

And I don't see the extinction of the human species: not even a nuclear world war could come close anymore. We're too entrenched and too sophisticated. You can be sure that around the world, in Africa, Cuba, and Asia, there are whole underground cities built to withstand terrible nuclear fall-out.

And there are so MANY of us, too many of us I agree, but it still adds to our survival chances. For now, I recommend investing just as much money in nuclear fall-out shelters as on space exploration. And, above all, we need to foster the civilization and humanity of our species; We need to become more modern, educated, and peaceful. This is the way to the stars, and it won't matter if it takes a few centuries longer.