Space & Astronomy

Richard Dawkins proposes 'cosmic tombstone'

By T.K. Randall
October 24, 2014

Image: Earthrise - Apollo 8
Credit: (PD) NASA While Dawkins' prediction of our inevitable demise seems somewhat pessimistic, the concept of preserving our knowledge and discoveries is certainly an intriguing one.

The proposition essentially involves compiling a definitive record of humanity's greatest creations and accomplishments and then sending this information out in to space to act as a posthumous monument to our species when we are no longer around.The 'God Delusion' author put forward the idea during a discussion with physicist Professor Laurence Krauss at an event in London hosted by The Skeptic magazine.

"I sometimes think that even now actually we should be sending out what you could call a ‘cosmic tombstone' because eventually the human species is going to go extinct," he said.

"It would be nice to think that Shakespeare and Bach and Darwin and Einstein - the achievements of the great humans of history - would not die with us."

Source: The Guardian

Tags: Richard Dawkins, Humanity, Extinction