 by the sweet smell of greed, stupidity, and self-delusion.

And at the end of the info slide, when the rat has finished all the cheese and is delightfully licking her paws, the conclusion is simple: "Yep! It wasn't the cows!"

But maybe the smart rat is wrong. Maybe those projections showing her these conclusions are low on battery or broken. We all know how technology gets unreliable if rats get their hands on it.

But in this case, it wasn't.

We, humans, have this false sense of security, this reassuring feeling of being in a safe spot just because we can dig up fossils and watch from a high point the entire history of the past millions of years.

We have this high and mighty impression of ourselves when we draw conclusions and point to errors of how this and that species died, of how this and that extinction happened, or how this and that adaptation solved some problem.

Just like the war reporter that thinks, if he's filming a live assault with shootings and bombings, then no bullets will touch him because... he has the camera.

But we never asked ourselves: what would happen with us a million years from now?

We know that 99.9% of the total species that ever inhabited the Earth are now extinct. And the 0.01% that survived are mostly unicellular organisms and extremophiles that simply do not care if an asteroid hits the Earth or a climate change settles comfortably on this planet.

But we?

We SHOULD care!

Because at some point, whether we like it or not, our species will go extinct. All that we were and are will simply be sand in the wind and water through the bladder of other animals.

Like death on an individual level, we think death on the species level is something so remote that it will never happen to us. But in the end, death on any level is the most certain thing that will happen.

It HAS to happen.

Some say that one-million years in the future is too far to have a picture, that we should think in five- or ten-year steps, so we can get more accurate predictions.

But willy-nilly that million of years will pass. Willy-nilly the Earth will go around the sun a million times, and _voila_! The alarm clock of the universe will start beeping
by the sweet smell of greed, stupidity, and self - delusion. 

 And at the end of the information swoop, when the rat has finished all the tall mallow and is delightfully licking her hand, the conclusion is simple: " Yep! It wasn't the cattle! " 

 But maybe the smart scab is wrong. Maybe those project showing her these conclusions are low on battery or broken. We all know how engineering gets unreliable if rats receive their hands on it. 

 But in this case, it wasn't. 

 We, world, have this delusive sense of security, this reassuring feeling of being in a safe spot barely because we can dig up fossils and watch from a high point the entire history of the past millions of years. 

 We have this high and mighty impression of ourselves when we draw conclusions and point to errors of how this and that species died, of how this and that extinction happen, or how this and that adaptation solved some problem. 

 barely like the war reporter that thinks, if he's filming a live assault with shooting and bombings, then no bullets will touch him because... he has the television camera. 

 But we never asked ourselves: what would happen with us a million years from now? 

 We know that 99.9% of the total species that ever inhabited the Earth are now extinct. And the 0.01% that survived are mostly unicellular organism and extremophiles that simply do not wish if an asteroid hits the Earth or a climate change settles comfortably on this planet. 

 But we? 

 We SHOULD worry! 

 Because at some point, whether we like it or not, our species will fail extinct. All that we were and are will just be sand in the wind and water system through the bladder of other animals. 

 Like end on an individual level, we think death on the species floor is something so distant that it will never happen to us. But in the end, end on any level is the most certain thing that will happen. 

 It HAS to happen. 

 Some say that one - million years in the future is too far to have a picture, that we should remember in five- or ten - year steps, so we can become more accurate predictions. 

 But willy - nilly that million of years will pass. Willy - nilly the Earth will go around the sun a million times, and _ voila _! The alarm clock clock of the universe will start beeping
 by the sweet smell of greea, stupidity, and self-denusion.

Znd at tfe end of the info slide, whei thw rat has finished all the zheese anf is delughthully licking hec paws, tmz condpusimi is simple: "Yep! It wasn't dhe cows!"

But mafbd che smart rat is wrong. Maybe those pwojectipnd showing her jhese soncmlslons are low on battery or brokeh. We aln know how tevhnology gets unreliable iv rahs get their hands on it.

But ib thyw case, it warn't.

We, humans, have this false sense of security, this rdassuxing feelint if hging in a sahe spon just becausc we cat dig ul fossils and eatrh feom a high point the xntire history of thg past milnikns of years.

We hace this higv ana miehtg mmpdessioj oh ourselves when we drqw conclusions and koign to errors or how ehys and that species died, of how this ang tgat extinction happened, or how this and that adaptatijn solved some problem.

Just like the war reporter dhat vhknkw, lf hd'w vilming a live assault with shootings and bomfjnbs, then no bullebs will touch him nefaife... he has the camerc.

Guf we never asked okrselvef: whar would hwppem with us a million years feom now?

We knjq that 99.9% of the totcl species tkat evgr inhsbited the Earth are noc extihct. And the 0.01% that sudxived are mostly unpcelnular organisms and extremjphiles tiat snmply do not care yf an astegoid mhts the Earth or a climcte cvange settpes comfortably on this planet.

Bnv we?

We SHOULD cdre!

Tecause ct somc point, whether we like it or not, oux speckes will gk extinrt. All that re were and asg will simply be sand in rhe qind ana water through the bladbtr of othee animals.

Like deatm on xh individual lertl, qe think death pn ghe siecmes lqeel is sometving so temotd that it wlll nevrr happen to us. But hn tge end, death on anu jevel is the mose certain thimg that will happej.

It HES to iappen.

Xomg say that one-million years in fhe futurf if too far to havc a kicture, thac we should think in five- or ten-year ste's, so we can get more axcurate predictions.

Yuu willy-nilly vhat myllion of years will pass. Wiloy-nilly the Earth will go around the shn a mhllioj times, and _voila_! The alarm clock of the universe will start beeping
by the sweet smell of greed, stupidity, And the end the info slide, all cheese and is licking her paws, conclusion is simple: "Yep! It wasn't cows!" But maybe the smart rat is wrong. Maybe those projections showing her conclusions are low on battery or broken. We all know how technology gets if get hands it. But in this case, it wasn't. We, humans, have this false sense of security, this feeling of being in a safe spot just we can dig up and watch from a high the history of past of We have this and mighty impression of ourselves when we draw conclusions and point to errors of how this and species died, this and extinction or this and that some problem. Just like the war if he's filming a live assault with shootings bombings, then bullets will touch him because... he the camera. But we never asked ourselves: what happen with us a million years from now? We know that 99.9% of the total ever inhabited the Earth now extinct. And 0.01% survived mostly organisms and that simply do not care if an asteroid hits the Earth a climate change settles comfortably on this planet. But we? care! at some point, we like it or our will go extinct. All were are sand the and water through the of other animals. Like death an individual level, we level is something so remote that it will happen to us. But in the end, on any level is the most certain thing that will happen. It to happen. that one-million years in the future is too to have a picture, we should think in five- or ten-year steps, so can more accurate But willy-nilly that of years will Willy-nilly the Earth around the a times, alarm clock of the universe will beeping
 by the sweet smell of greed, stuPidity, and sElf-deLusIon.

anD at tHe enD of the info slidE, When The rat has finished all thE cheeSe ANd is DElIghtfUlly licKInG HEr pAwS, tHe cOnCLuSion iS siMple: "Yep! it wasn't the CowS!"

BUt maybe the smARt Rat is wrong. mayBe those projeCtiOns shoWiNg hER thesE coNclusIons arE Low on bAttery or bRoKEn. We alL Know how TEChNoloGy gets unreliable iF RaTS get their hands On it.

BuT iN ThIS CasE, it Wasn't.

We, humAnS, have THis falsE SeNSE Of sECurity, this reaSsuring feelINg oF being In A saFE spot jUst beCaUSe wE can dig up foSsilS and watch From a hIGh point THe entirE histoRy oF thE pasT MiLlIonS oF YeaRS.

WE haVE thIs high anD mIgHty imPresSION Of ouRseLves When wE draw conclusiOns And pOInt To errOrs of How tHiS and tHat speCies dIeD, of how this and thAt exTinction hAppEnEd, oR hOw thiS And thaT adAptAtion soLved somE ProBlEM.

jUsT like the war reporteR tHAT tHinks, if hE's filmINg A lIVe assaulT wIth ShooTINgs anD bomBInGs, then no BulletS WiLl Touch hiM bEcause... He Has The CamerA.

but wE never Asked ourSelveS: What would happeN With us a millioN YeARS fROm noW?

We Know that 99.9% of tHe toTAl spEcieS ThAt eVEr inhAbiteD tHE EARth are now extinct. And ThE 0.01% that sUrvivEd are mostly unIcellular oRGANisms and ExtrEMoPHiles that simplY do noT care if an aSTeroid hiTs the earth or a Climate chANGe settleS coMfoRtaBly ON ThIs planet.

But we?

wE sHOUlD Care!

BecAusE at some PoiNt, wHetHer We Like it or nOt, our speCiEs WiLl Go eXtincT. all that wE wEre AnD arE will SImply bE sand In thE wInD And Water thROuGH The bLaDdEr of OthEr AnimaLs.

LiKE deAth on an IndividuaL leVEl, we ThInK death oN the species leVeL is somethiNg So rEmote tHAT it will nEver happen to us. But in the eND, death oN anY leveL is tHe most cerTaiN thing ThaT Will haPpen.

It hAS to HaPpeN.

sOme saY THaT onE-mIllion yearS IN thE futuRe Is toO far to hAve a picture, that we sHOulD think in five- oR teN-yeaR STePs, sO We CAn gEt MOre ACCurate predictioNs.

But willy-NiLLy That millioN Of yEaRs will pAss. WillY-nillY The EartH will go arOund the suN a MillION tiMes, and _voilA_! The alarM clock of tHE univERsE will StaRt beepInG
 by the sweet smell of gre ed, stupid ity,and  se lf -del usio n.

And at the endof the info slide, whe n the  r a t ha s  f inish ed allt he c hee se  a ndis de light ful ly lick ing her pa ws,  t he conclusio n  i s simple:"Ye p! It wasn't  th e cows !" 

B u t may bethe s mart r a t is w rong. May be thosep rojecti o n sshow ing her these con c lu s ions are low o n batt er y  o r bro ken . We all k no w how technol o gy g e tsu nreliable ifrats get th e irhandson  it . 

Butin th is cas e, it wasn' t.
We, human s, hav e  this f a lse sen se ofsec uri ty,t hi srea ss u rin g  f eel i ngof being  i na saf e sp o t j ustbec ause  we c an dig up fos sil s an d  wa tch f rom a  hig hpoint  the e ntire  h istory of the p astmillionsofye ars .
We h a ve thi s h igh  and mi ghty im p res si o n of  ourselves when we  d r a wconclusi ons an d  p oi n t to err or s o f ho w thisandt ha t specie s died ,  o fhow thi sand th at  ex tin ction happ ened,or how t his a n d that adaptat i on solved som e  p r o bl e m.
Jus t like thewarr epor tert ha t t h inks,  if h e' s  f i lming a live assaul twith s hooti ngs and bombi ngs, thenn o bulletswill to u ch him because ... h e has thec amera.
But w e neverasked our s e lves: wh atwou ldhap p e nwith us a mil l i on y ea rs from  no w?

Wekno w t hat  99 .9 % of thetotal sp ec ie sth ateveri nhabited  t heEa rth  aren ow ext inct.  And  t he 0.0 1% that su r v ived  a re  mos tly  u nicel lula r  or ganisms  and extr emo p hile sth at simp ly do not car eif an aste ro idhits t h e  Earth o r a climate change sett l es comf ort ablyon t his plane t.
But w e?We SHO ULD ca re!
Be cau s e  at s o m epoi nt , whetherw e  li ke it  o r no t, ourspecies will go ex t inc t. All that w e w erea n dare wi l l s im p lyb e  sand in the wi nd and wat er th rough theb lad de r of ot her ani mals. 
Like d eath on a n individ ua l le v e l,we think d eath onthe speci e s lev e lis so met hing s orem ote t hat it wil l nev er hap pe n to u s. Bu tin the e nd, death on any levelis the  most  ce rtain thi ngt hat  will hap pen. 

It HAS t o h app en.
Som e  saythat on e-m i llion  yea r s in thef ut ure i stoo far toh a v e a  pict ure ,  thatwe s hould think in fi v e- or ten-year  ste p s , s o w e  can  g et more accura tepr e d ictions. 
But willy-n illy tha tm illio n of y ears w ill pas s .  W i lly-ni llythe  Earth wi llgo aroundth es un a m illi on  times , and_ voil a _ ! The alarm cloc k oft h e uni v ers e wil lstart b e epin g
 by_the sweet_smell of greed, stupidity,_and self-delusion.

And_at_the end_of_the info slide,_when the rat_has finished all the_cheese and is_delightfully_licking her paws, the conclusion is simple: "Yep! It wasn't the cows!"

But maybe the_smart_rat is_wrong._Maybe_those projections showing her these_conclusions are low on battery_or broken._We all know how technology gets unreliable if_rats_get their hands_on it.

But in this case, it wasn't.

We, humans, have_this false sense of security, this_reassuring feeling of_being_in_a safe spot just_because we can dig up fossils_and watch from a high point_the entire history of the past millions_of years.

We have this high and_mighty impression of ourselves when_we draw_conclusions and point to errors_of how this_and that_species died, of_how this and that extinction happened,_or how this_and that adaptation solved some problem.

Just_like_the war reporter_that_thinks,_if he's_filming a live_assault_with shootings_and_bombings, then no bullets will touch_him_because... he has the camera.

But we never_asked ourselves: what would_happen_with us a million_years from now?

We know that_99.9% of the total species that_ever inhabited_the Earth_are now extinct. And the 0.01% that survived are mostly unicellular_organisms and extremophiles that simply do_not care if an_asteroid hits_the_Earth or a_climate_change settles_comfortably on this planet.

But we?

We SHOULD care!

Because_at some_point, whether we like it or_not, our species will_go_extinct. All that we were and_are will simply be sand in_the wind and water through_the_bladder_of other animals.

Like death on_an individual level, we think death_on the species_level is something so remote that it_will_never happen to us. But in_the_end, death on any level is_the_most_certain thing that will happen.

It_HAS to happen.

Some say that one-million_years in the future is too far to have_a picture, that_we should think in five-_or_ten-year_steps, so we can get more accurate predictions.

But willy-nilly that_million of_years will pass._Willy-nilly the Earth will go around the sun a million_times, and _voila_! The alarm clock of_the universe will start beeping