It could be argued that mankind has always had a 50/50 chance of surviving.

It's widely accepted that extinction events have occurred in the past.

And therefore, a logical assumption to assume that an extinction event will occur again.

As the centuries pass, the odds of an event occurring are inevitably getting shorter.


Nowadays we also have to add the human factor into the equation. Perhaps shortening the odds even further.

We should pay particular regard to the exponential rate of technological advancement, which might imply an even further shortening of the odds.

It's also fair to suggest that technological advancement, coupled with a growing awareness of environmental problems, might be the temporary salvation of mankind.

How one views these final two issues, probably depends on how much faith one has in human nature.


Is this our final century?.............It might be. Or there again, it might not.

Well, it certainly could be.  

But
1) People have predicted the end of the world many times in each century, and yet we're still here. And
2) We really should only focus on the things we can change to survive and try to keep going on.  Because all the stuff beyond our control isn't going to change just by worrying about it or by throwing in the towel and declaring we're all wrapped up.  And
3) To quote Han Solo - "never tell me the odds!"