This Is When Stephen Hawking Thinks The End Of The World Will Be

Stephen Hawking apparently believes an apocalypse on Earth is likely, but hopefully not for a very long time.

According to Mashable, the University of Cambridge physics professor told Radio Times nuclear war, global warming and an outbreak of genetically engineered viruses are just some of the threats that could put Earth's future in jeopardy.

But, the 74-year-old cautioned it probably will be another 1,000 or even 10,000 years before any world-ending disasters occur.

He reportedly said humans will almost certainly be living in outer space by that time, allowing the human race to continue even after Earth is no more.

Hawking estimated it will take another 100 years for humans to begin living in space, so mankind must therefore be "very careful" not to destroy Earth before then.

Such destruction might be possible by way of scientific advancements that spin out of control, he suggested.

Hawking reportedly told Radio Times,

Most of the threats we face come from the progress we've made in science and technology. We're not going to stop making progress, or reverse it, so we must recognize the dangers and control them. I'm an optimist and I believe we can.

Hawking's prediction comes a few days after he unveiled a new theory about black holes.

Along with two colleagues, Hawking suggested, contrary to previous claims, it may indeed be possible to learn the origins of black holes as well as what got lost inside them.

Citations: When to expect the end of the world, according to Stephen Hawking (Mashable)