Evolution...?

[Jonluw]

But we're not perfect, and it has been a while since we last evolved.

So I pose this question, to you, my fellow Escapists;

What do you think will be the next step in the human evolution, and when will it happen?
[sub]Take a guess or give us some scientific mumbo-jumbo! Throw it out here.[/sub]

Evolution is a continuous process. It hasn't been a while since we last evolved; it does not work like in Pokémon. There is no such thing as a next "step".

If I am supposed to say where I believe evolution will take us next, I am not very sure what to answer.
Evolution by natural selection doesn't really apply to us as a species anymore. There are few genetic traits that will increase one's likelihood of procreating in this day and age.

Spoiler: Of course, I am tempted to say that the world will end up like in Idiocracy, but apparently...

Edit: I think I'll chant in with the people saying the next step is probably us engineering ourselves.

 

[Iron Mal]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

This is by far and large the most logical and correct answer.

There will only be another evolutionary step if we find ourselves ina climate or environment that demands certain qualities of us in order to survive and breed (in other words, a return to survival of the fittest) which, in our cultured world of everyone getting an equal chance, won't happen for a long time.

 

[Boneasse]

But we're not perfect, and it has been a while since we last evolved.

So I pose this question, to you, my fellow Escapists;

What do you think will be the next step in the human evolution, and when will it happen?
[sub]Take a guess or give us some scientific mumbo-jumbo! Throw it out here.[/sub]

Evolution is a continuous process. It hasn't been a while since we last evolved; it does not work like in Pokémon. There is no such thing as a next "step".

Of course, but what I was looking for, with that question, was the next "big leap" in our evolution, should one occur.

A rapid change from our current selves may well take millions of years, and just because I am talking about the next "step" does not mean that anything radical couldn't happen at all.

 

[LarenzoAOG]

1. We are all under constant evolution, we have evolved a lot since the human fossils, but it took a very, very long time. So the next step in human evolution is every single generation.

When a species evolves it becomes a new species, unable to breed with the one that came beofre us, unless I'm misunderstanding you you claim that every new generation is a form of evolution? Which is wrong because an older creepy gentleman can have kids with gold digging young sluts.

 

[Jonluw]

Be something fish-related. Gills or mermaid-like tails is my guess.
Gotta account for the rising sea levels one way or another. Of course, it'll only be the poor folk that can't afford boats that'll evolve as such. Then the fish people will eventually set out to overthrow the boat dwellers and-
Whoops. Sorry, let my imagination off its lead for a second there.

Actually, I have been toying with the thought of creating a human colony that would live in the sea, in order to see if they'd adapt to their surroundings in a few generations.
Of course, to speed up the process, we would have to take selection out of nature's hands; and instead hold contests to see who in the community are best adapted to the environment, and then let them mate. The ones who do too bad in the mating games will not be allowed to have children. (Or a more humane version: Will have to go back to living on land.)

It's a fun thought; seeing if we can create a new race of humans, adapted to the conditions in the sea.
I imagine this new race would have more subcutaneous fat, and larger feet and hands. Perhaps, in time, they would grow more skin between their fingers.

 

[Jonluw]

But we're not perfect, and it has been a while since we last evolved.

So I pose this question, to you, my fellow Escapists;

What do you think will be the next step in the human evolution, and when will it happen?
[sub]Take a guess or give us some scientific mumbo-jumbo! Throw it out here.[/sub]

Evolution is a continuous process. It hasn't been a while since we last evolved; it does not work like in Pokémon. There is no such thing as a next "step".

Of course, but what I was looking for, with that question, was the next "big leap" in our evolution, should one occur.

A rapid change from our current selves may well take millions of years, and just because I am talking about the next "step" does not mean that anything radical couldn't happen at all.

Spoiler: Hokay, I was afraid you had some sort of misconception like this:

 

[acolyte]

I believe what is used most are the parts that will change the most during evolution, our penises and fists will evolve and become much more advanced, while our brains will wither away.

Thats so silleh ^^ ...the penis doesn't think by it's self...nor do the fists...all the things we do (or most of them),we do them using our brain first...offtopic anyway...
Well i think we are becoming more cerebral...we are becoming more intelligent with each generation...but (from what i observed) we are also becoming more fragile...our bodies are becoming weaker due to the fact that we don't do the stuff that our ancestors did (e.g. hunting and such) the stuff that we were built for to survive as a species...due to the fact that our bodies are becoming weaker we tend to be sick more often...thats my opinion anyway...

 

[Space Spoons]

If a childhood spent reading comics and watching cartoons has taught me anything, it's that the next step in human evolution will be dangerous outcasts who use their unique powers to protect a world that fears and misunderstands them. Also, there'll probably be giant Mutant hunting robots.

 

[teqrevisited]

I would expect, since we are tailoring our surroundings to suit our needs instead of adapting, that some kind of physical or mental deterioration would occur.

 

[Romidude]

I believe what is used most are the parts that will change the most during evolution, our penises and fists will evolve and become much more advanced, while our brains will wither away.

Thats so silleh ^^ ...the penis doesn't think by it's self...nor do the fists...all the things we do (or most of them),we do them using our brain first...offtopic anyway...
Well i think we are becoming more cerebral...we are becoming more intelligent with each generation...but (from what i observed) we are also becoming more fragile...our bodies are becoming weaker due to the fact that we don't do the stuff that our ancestors did (e.g. hunting and such) the stuff that we were built for to survive as a species...due to the fact that our bodies are becoming weaker we tend to be sick more often...thats my opinion anyway...

I agree with you, it was just a little joke.

 

[WolfLordAndy]

The way the most people treat their bodies, we'll gain a stronger alchohol tollerance, gain more dexterous hands (maybe even extra fingers) while our legs will begin to get weaker as less people do physical activities, and more become mindless button pushers!

Somewhat bleak I know

In all honesty, I think we're pretty much at the evolution dead end as we've got to the point where anything that needs adapting, we adapt it to suit us, rather then waiting for evolution. Something rather dramatic would have to happen for us to start evolving (like global warming/cooling/raising sea levels)

 

[Sebenko]

Machines.

Humanity will evolve using machines. Biology is too slow.

A human on it's own is weaker than quite a lot of predators. A human with a machine, say a car, or a gun, has a massive advantage.

 

[gl1koz3]

I assume it stopped as soon as we got internet. Instead of fucking everything that moves, people now sit here and stagnate the process. LOL.

 

[Fridge]

So Earth has been around for a pretty long time, yea? Scientists and other good folk have traced the evolution of man, among other things, back to several millenia ago.

Whether primates were our ancestors or not, or we came from the sea originally, humankind has evolved through the times and will (if we don't destroy our planet) continue to do so. But we're not perfect, and it has been a while since we last evolved.

So I pose this question, to you, my fellow Escapists;

What do you think will be the next step in the human evolution, and when will it happen?
[sub]Take a guess or give us some scientific mumbo-jumbo! Throw it out here.[/sub]

Edit: Can't be bothered to be scientific? Then just post what you think would be cool! That'll work too.

Well I have a theory that our next evolution won't be occurring while we're on this planet, if / when we start to colonise other planets I think that's when evolution will kick in. Like stronger bone structure for planets with a slightly higher gravity or a change in skin pigment to make use of the light etc. We are talking over many millennia though.

 

[Weslebear]

Considering our reliance on technology to deal with any great environmental stress, the survival of the fittest is effectively negated. With science as it is rapidly advancing, it is possible for people with any of the many gene pool dirtying conditions to survive as easily as much more healthy or more intelligent humans.

In summary we aren't going to evolve. Our very greatest advancement, science, is in effect regressing us. Our need to become stronger, faster and more intelligent with defects wiped out through survival has been lost. Our gene pool will only stagnate further until our technology reaches it's limit and by that point I think nature will catch up and we will never be prepared for it. We have begun our own extinction.

 

[Marik2]

To quote from a ?the now show? audience question.
What do you think mankind will be like in a million years?
Women will have 3 boobs.
why?
Because boobs are nice

Nah they'd be more bigger and the backs of women would have wings to keep them from falling off

Spoiler

 

[thethingthatlurks]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

Forcibly, I might add. That's not a good thing, of course. For example, our overuse of antibiotics and antibacterial compounds allowed bacteria (eg Tuberculosis) to develop immunity.

What's in store for us? I foresee an overall decrease in intelligence, at least going by the popularity of reality TV, and the intelligence of the average freshman on campus. Face it, stupid people just breed more...

Ever seen 'Idiocracy' [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/]? The thought alone is terrible.

No, but my boss also mentioned it when we were having almost the exact same discussion. I should check it out, even if it is going to scare me...

 

[TheTaco007]

We won't evolve any more. We have so much technology now that we don't need to evolve. Now we just evolve our technology.

 

[Wade-DeadPool]

As things are going now... I think we will get some new breeds of humans.
The super fat humans, born fat, die fatter.
The platsic human, 50% fake from the start, 120% fake at death.
The Super smart "human", Just a big brain in a tube of tasty nourishment, thinking all day long.
The Stupid human, ppl that think losing some body is a great time and a book is just something to start a nice fire with.