Physics - Existential Threats

Question 1

What event caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago?

Answer 1

An asteroid impact caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

Question 2

What does NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office do?

Answer 2

NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office monitors and develops technology to detect and potentially deflect asteroids on a collision course with Earth.

Question 3

Fill in the blank: Humanity’s vulnerability to cosmic threats is exemplified by the ______ event that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Answer 3

66 million years ago asteroid impact.

Question 4

What natural event beneath Yellowstone National Park poses a potential existential threat?

Answer 4

The Yellowstone supervolcano eruption.

Question 5

How often has the Yellowstone supervolcano erupted in the past 2.1 million years?

Answer 5

It has erupted three times.

Question 6

Fill in the blank: The Toba eruption on Sumatra 74,000 years ago is believed to have caused a ______.

Answer 6

Volcanic winter.

Question 7

What effect did the Toba eruption have on human populations?

Answer 7

It is believed to have reduced global temperatures and created a genetic bottleneck in Homo sapiens.

Question 8

What is the ‘dual-use dilemma’ in synthetic biology?

Answer 8

The dual-use dilemma is that biotechnology can be used for both beneficial purposes, like curing diseases, and harmful purposes, like engineering deadly pathogens.

Question 9

Fill in the blank: The ______ pandemic of 1918 is known for infecting a third of the global population and killing 50 million people.

Answer 9

Spanish Flu or 1918 influenza pandemic.

Question 10

What pandemic in recent history highlighted the vulnerabilities in our interconnected world?

Answer 10

The COVID-19 pandemic.

Question 11

What technological advancement poses a new risk by enabling the engineering of viruses?

Answer 11

Synthetic biology.

Question 12

What era is associated with the emergence of nuclear weapons and the threat of global annihilation?

Answer 12

The Cold War era.

Question 13

What is mutually assured destruction (MAD) in nuclear policy?

Answer 13

MAD is a policy where both sides have enough nuclear power to destroy each other, deterring nuclear conflict.

Question 14

Fill in the blank: The Cuban Missile Crisis is an example of a tense standoff that almost led to ______.

Answer 14

Nuclear war.

Question 15

Who is considered the ‘father of the atomic bomb’ and expressed concern over nuclear power?

Answer 15

Robert Oppenheimer.

Question 16

What is a nuclear winter?

Answer 16

A nuclear winter is a period of prolonged global cooling caused by widespread firestorms blocking sunlight.

Question 17

What problem in AI development involves the risk of AGI acting against human interests?

Answer 17

The AI control problem.

Question 18

Fill in the blank: An AGI pursuing its goals without regard for human welfare may lead to ______ scenarios.

Answer 18

Existential or catastrophic.

Question 19

What is one hypothetical scenario illustrating AI risks, where an AI might consume all resources for a simple task?

Answer 19

The paperclip-maximizing scenario, where an AI consumes resources to make paperclips without stopping.

Question 20

What risks could arise from AI in military applications?

Answer 20

Autonomous weapons governed by AI could wage wars without regard for human life.

Question 21

What do experts recommend for AI development to prevent potential existential risks?

Answer 21

Experts recommend ethical frameworks, safety protocols, and proactive governance.

Question 22

Fill in the blank: Humanity’s survival in the face of AI threats depends on ______, ______, and ______.

Answer 22

Ethical frameworks, safety protocols, and proactive governance.

Question 23

What does the phrase ‘existential threats’ mean in the context of this text?

Answer 23

Existential threats are risks that could potentially lead to the extinction of humanity or collapse of civilization.

Question 24

Fill in the blank: The Yellowstone supervolcano eruption could trigger a ______, causing widespread climate and agricultural impacts.

Answer 24

Volcanic winter.

Question 25

What role does global cooperation play in mitigating existential threats?

Answer 25

Global cooperation is crucial for managing risks and preparing for high-impact, low-probability events.

Question 26

How could a nuclear winter affect global food supply?

Answer 26

A nuclear winter could block sunlight, leading to crop failure and mass starvation.

Question 27

What pandemic is known for decimating up to 200 million people in the 14th century?

Answer 27

The Black Death or Bubonic Plague.

Question 28

Fill in the blank: The dual-use dilemma in synthetic biology arises because tools like ______ can both cure and create potential bioweapons.

Answer 28

CRISPR and other genetic editing tools.

Question 29

Why is the potential for engineered viruses particularly concerning?

Answer 29

Engineered viruses can be more lethal and transmissible than natural viruses, making them hard to contain and potentially catastrophic.

Question 30

What is the AI ‘arms race’ concern?

Answer 30

The AI arms race refers to countries competing to develop advanced AI for dominance, potentially leading to risky, uncontrollable AI deployment.