[rbg81]

I think that for Western civilization to survive, other planets must be colonized. Without a frontier, we start to get stupid as a species.

[Tax-chick]

As a lifelong science fiction reader, I think there are a lot of interesting possibilities. However, I don’t think panicky end-of-us-all speculation is necessary or helpful. We survived the Black Death. We’re a tough species.

I remember when the oceans were going to be the next great frontier for centuries to come. Well, they’re still there.

[jmacusa]

Well unfortunately for us in our little solar neighborhood Mars is the only other terrestrial planet. But Mars is not a warm fuzzy place. Virtually no atmosphere, no water, that is known of, it's bombarded by dangerous levels of ultra violet radiation and six months out of the year the whole surface is subjected to violent wind storms with wind gusts of over 400mph that can last for weeks or months. We're in a tight spot here. Venus and Mercury are out. Hawking may be right.