We are living through a period that is unique in human history. For the first time in more than ten thousand years, the rate of human population growth is slowing down. In the middle of this century population growth will stop, and the number of people on Earth will start to decline - fast.

As Gee demonstrates, our population has peaked, and is declining; our environment is becoming inimical to human life in many locations; our core resources of water, arable land, and air are diminishing; and new diseases, simmering conflicts, and ambiguous technologies threaten our collective health. Can we still change our course? Or is our own extinction inevitable?

There could be a way out, but the launch window is narrow.

Unless Homo sapiens establishes successful colonies in space within the next two centuries, our species is likely to stay earthbound and will have vanished entirely within another ten thousand years, bringing the seven-million-year story of the human lineage to an end.

To look at our escape options, we are joined by Henry Gee, author of “The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire.” He envisions new opportunities for the future of humanity—a future that will reward facing challenges with ingenuity, foresight, and cooperation.

We are living through a period that is unique in human history. For the first time in more than ten thousand years, the rate of human population growth is slowing down. In the middle of this century population growth will stop,&nbsp;and&nbsp;the number of people on Earth will start to&nbsp;decline&nbsp;- fast. As Gee demonstrates, our population has peaked,&nbsp;and&nbsp;is&nbsp;declining; our environment is becoming inimical to human life in many locations; our core resources of water, arable land,&nbsp;and&nbsp;air are diminishing;&nbsp;and&nbsp;new diseases, simmering conflicts,&nbsp;and&nbsp;ambiguous technologies threaten our collective health. Can we still change our course?&nbsp;Or&nbsp;is our own extinction inevitable? There could be a way out, but the launch window is narrow. Unless&nbsp;Homo sapiens&nbsp;establishes successful colonies in space within the next two centuries, our species is likely to stay earthbound&nbsp;and&nbsp;will have vanished entirely within another ten thousand years, bringing the seven-million-year story of the human lineage to an end.
To look at our escape options, we are joined by Henry Gee, author of &ldquo;The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire.&rdquo; He envisions new opportunities for the future of humanity&mdash;a future that will reward facing challenges with ingenuity, foresight,&nbsp;and&nbsp;cooperation.

For history lovers who listen to podcasts, History Unplugged is the most comprehensive show of its kind. It's the only show that dedicates episodes to both interviewing experts and answering questions from its audience. First, it features a call-in show where you can ask our resident historian (Scott Rank, PhD) absolutely anything (What was it like to be a Turkish sultan with four wives and twelve concubines? If you were sent back in time, how would you kill Hitler?). Second, it features long-form interviews with best-selling authors who have written about everything. Topics include gruff World War II generals who flew with airmen on bombing raids, a war horse who gained the rank of sergeant, and presidents who gave their best speeches while drunk.

A show about American history, world history, World Wars 1 & 2, the Civil War, and much more.

History Unplugged Podcast

For history lovers who listen to podcasts, History Unplugged is the most comprehensive show of its kind. It's the only show that dedicates episodes to both interviewing experts and answering questions from its audience. First, it features a call-in show where you can ask our resident historian (Scott Rank, PhD) absolutely anything (What was it like to be a Turkish sultan with four wives and twelve concubines? If you were sent back in time, how would you kill Hitler?). Second, it features long-form interviews with best-selling authors who have written about everything. Topics include gruff World War II generals who flew with airmen on bombing raids, a war horse who gained the rank of sergeant, and presidents who gave their best speeches while drunk.

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