Short answers, pulled from the story.
Georges Cuvier identified 23 extinct prehistoric species by the year 1800 using fossil evidence. This work challenged ancient philosophical doctrines that viewed extinction as impossible.
Metaculus users estimated a 1% probability of human extinction by 2100 on the 29th of July 2025. This figure represents a specific prediction made by community forecasters regarding future survival risks.
Brandon Carter proposed the Doomsday argument in 1983 using Bayesian probability to predict total human numbers. The theory suggests humanity has a 95% probability of being extinct within 8 million years according to J. Richard Gott's formulation.
The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement calls for refraining from reproduction to stop further environmental degradation caused by human civilization. Members believe this approach allows the species to go peacefully extinct due to ethical concerns about resource consumption and ecological destruction.
Bill Gates told The Wall Street Journal on the 27th of January 2025 that there is a 10-15% chance of a natural pandemic hitting in four years. This statement highlights current expert assessments regarding global health threats.