In a recent news conference the world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking had some hopeful and cautionary words for humanity.

“The survival of the human race depends on its ability to find new homes elsewhere in the universe because there’s an increasing risk that a disaster will destroy Earth.”

“Humans could have a permanent base on the moon in 20 years and a colony on Mars in the next 40 years.”

“We won’t find anywhere as nice as Earth unless we go to another star system…..if we humans can avoid killing ourselves in the next 100 years, we should have space settlements that can continue without support from Earth.”

“It is important for the human race to spread out into space for the survival of the species. Life on Earth is at the ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as sudden global warming, nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus or other dangers we have not yet thought of.”