Los Angeles Times

Commentary: Is humanity doomed? That depends on us

Will birth rates doom humanity? Tech billionaire Elon Musk sounded an old alarm in December when he claimed that declining births are “one of the biggest risks to civilization.” “Please look at the numbers,” he implored The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council. “If people don’t have more children, civilization is going to crumble, mark my words.” Such population doomsaying is not limited to ...
Crammed-in festivalgoers cheer during the second day of Lollapalooza on July 30, 2021.

Will birth rates doom humanity? Tech billionaire Elon Musk sounded an old alarm in December when he claimed that declining births are “one of the biggest risks to civilization.”

“Please look at the numbers,” he implored The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council. “If people don’t have more children, civilization is going to crumble, mark my words.”

Such population doomsaying is not limited to billionaires. Paleontologist Henry Gee argued in November that our species is destined for extinction — and

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