The late Stephen Hawking, one of history’s greatest scientific minds, left behind a sobering prediction about humanity’s future that’s gaining renewed attention. Before his passing in 2018, the renowned physicist warned that Earth could become uninhabitable within 600 years if current trends continue. His calculations pointed to explosive population growth and unsustainable energy consumption as primary threats, potentially transforming our planet into what he dramatically described as a “giant ball of fire.”
Hawking’s mathematical projections suggested that by the year 2600, overcrowding would have people standing shoulder-to-shoulder worldwide, while energy demands would literally make the Earth glow red-hot. NASA has acknowledged these concerns while highlighting their ongoing planetary research efforts. The scientist’s warnings extended beyond environmental factors to include artificial intelligence, nuclear warfare, and global pandemics – predictions that have taken on new relevance in recent years.
