Human extinction

Human extinction, or omnicide, refers to the possible ending of the human species, either by population decline due to singular natural events—for example, space irradiation, asteroid impact, or large-scale volcanism—or via anthropogenic destruction (self-extinction).

Some of the many possible contributors to anthropogenic hazards are climate change, global nuclear annihilation, biological warfare, weapons of mass destruction, and ecological collapse. Other scenarios center on emerging technologies, such as advanced artificial intelligence, biotechnology, or self-replicating nanobots.

The scientific consensus is that there is a relatively low risk of near-term human extinction due to natural causes. The likelihood of human extinction through humankind's own activities, however, is a current area of research and debate.