Humanity's population will soon consist of four distinct groups.
Fire, once a game-changer, just like the internet and AI today, is shaping our future too.
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It's inevitable, human evolution is reaching its culmination point. Our species stands at the brink of extinction, not the first time in history, but we'll make it. And by the end of the 21st century, there will be four types of humans left on Earth. One of them, fortunate for us, is us - Homo sapiens. And we'll create three more, thanks to genetic manipulation and new technologies.
Sounds far-fetched? Not according to anthropologist Eudald Carbonell, a renowned expert in human history. His groundbreaking book, "From the Cave to the Cosmos: New Frontiers of Humanity as a Species," holds more weight than his numerous prestigious publications in Nature and Science, he claims.
Rummaging through the past, Carbonell isn't shy about pushing the boundaries of credibility. By the end of the 21st century, there will be four types of humans on Earth. One of them, fortunately, is us, Homo sapiens. And we will create three more, thanks to genetic engineering and advanced technology.
(Image: Shutterstock)
FROM THE "KP" FILES
Eudald Carbonell-i-Rovira, born in Spain in 1953, is no ordinary scientist. He holds doctorates in geology and history and has dedicated years to studying our ancestors at the Atapuerca archaeological site in Spain. In 1994, he discovered an unknown species of early human, Homo antecessor. These precursor humans, believed to be the first to settle in Europe 800,000 years ago, paved the way for the Neanderthals and Homo sapiens.
Human evolution according to Carbonell:
Firstly, our ancestors learned to walk on two legs—hard to deny that.
Secondly, they decided to conquer the world. Rather than staying in Africa, they ventured to other continents. And this ambitious spirit, says Carbonell, will surface again—Humanity may inhabit the Moon and neighboring planets to ensure survival. We're natural "conquistadors," he says, and it's in our blood.
Thirdly, we don't merely conquer the world but transform and adapt it for our needs—from stone tools to smartphones, our technological revolution is nothing new.
The drive to conquer and transform the world to fit our interests is one of the traits that made us human, argues Carbonell.
INTERNET - THE HEARTH IN THE CAVE
Fire once changed our ancestors' lives, just like the internet and AI do now.
- Like the internet, fire was about more than technology—it facilitated communication. Imagine a cave hearth turning a dark, cold space into a warm, inviting home. This sharing of warmth encouraged conversation and social bonding, strengthening family and societal ties.
- And yes, there's a difference - humans took hundreds of thousands of years to "tame" fire, while the internet took only a few decades, admits Carbonell.
Fire was not only about technological development but also communication. It turned a cave into a home hearth.
WE AND OUR HALF-HUMAN CYBORGS
By the end of the 22nd century, there will be four distinct types of people on Earth, according to Carbonell, including:
- Normal people. Much like us.
- People "constructed" in labs. This might seem science fiction, but ask anyone about in vitro fertilization from a century ago to know how far technology can advance. Carbonell calls these individuals Homo editus - the edited human.
- People who have modified their DNA to avoid or cure diseases. This is slightly different from organ transplants. A hundred years ago, transplanting organs seemed unbelievable, so why wouldn't altering human DNA become a reality?
- Cyborgs - people connected to chips and computers. Even if one type ceases to exist, the others still have a shot at survival, reasons Carbonell. Humanity has intentionally adapted in the past to avoid extinction risks—take Denisovans, Neanderthals, and early Homo sapiens who coexisted and interbred successfully. But don't expect violence or oppression among the different groups, anticipates Carbonell. Instead, there will be cultural exchange and collaboration.
- The evolution of human species is reaching its pinnacle, with Homo sapiens standing at the brink of further development.
- Anthropologist Eudald Carbonell, an expert in human history, predicts four types of humans by the end of the 21st century, including the existing Homo sapiens.
- In his book "From the Cave to the Cosmos: New Frontiers of Humanity as a Species," Carbonell suggests three new human types will be created through genetic manipulation and advanced technology.
- Carbonell's numerous prestigious publications in Science and Nature lend credibility to his theories, but his groundbreaking book holds more weight, he claims.
- Inspired by the internet and AI, Carbonell equates the transformative impact of past technology like fire to our current digital age.
- Just as fire enabled communication and social bonding, the internet facilitates information sharing and collaboration, strengthening connections among people.
- If the internet took only a few decades to dominate our lives, future advancements in science, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, nutrition, environmental-science, space-and-astronomy, lifestyle, technology, and education-and-self-development could happen faster than expected.
- In addition to the four distinct human types predicted by Carbonell, he anticipates collaboration and cultural exchange among the different groups instead of violence or oppression.
