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There have already been close calls with nukes. No way in hell we last another hundred.

If only it was nukes. I'm afraid we're more likely to go out with a whimper. The fertility rates have plummeted and there's no reason to believe those will rise back to replacement level.

There is also no reason to believe that the fertility rates would go to zero. To an outside observer, we might simply be reaching a new equilibrium.

The idealized Star Trek society of production automation and exploratory self fulfillment might only be possible, and sustainable, if we are a billion people.

That is still plenty enough people to continue our ever accelerating and vast exploration of culture, science and space.

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