Science
Oxford professor identifies potential successor to humans on Earth: “A civilization-building species”
An Oxford academic has theorized about what might happen if humans were to go extinct and reveals which species could take over as civilization builders.
The idea that life on Earth could continue without humans leads us to reflect on our permanence as a species. Despite our significant transformation of the planet, Earth’s history shows that no species is eternal.
Professor Tim Coulson from the University of Oxford explores this possibility in his book “The Universal History of Us”. According to him, the disappearance of humans could pave the way for new species to occupy the ecological roles we would leave behind. Evolution, which he describes as a process driven by genetic mutations, would continue, guiding organisms to adapt to the changing environment.
“Extinction is the fate of all species, including ours, though we hope that outcome is far off,” Coulson states. Many might think that primates, our closest relatives, would be the natural successors. However, Coulson argues that their reliance on social networks and specific behaviors could limit their adaptation to a world without humans.
Why octopuses could become humans' successors
Octopuses, known for their intelligence and adaptability, could become the new “civilization builders.” Their problem-solving abilities, communication through color changes, and object manipulation suggest they could evolve into even more complex forms if conditions allow.
“Over time, they could develop ways to breathe out of water and explore new habitats, even hunting terrestrial prey,” Coulson theorizes.
Although their current limitations, such as the lack of a skeleton, make life out of water difficult, evolution could overcome these obstacles over millions of years. In a post-human world, the oceans could become even more important as centers of biodiversity. Octopuses might build underwater cities, interact with their environment in innovative ways, and perhaps develop their own technology.
Coulson acknowledges that predicting the future of evolution is nearly impossible due to the countless variables involved. However, his analysis highlights how unexpected events, such as genetic mutations or mass extinctions, have guided the history of life on Earth. “Is it likely that octopuses will replace humans as the dominant species? It’s an intriguing possibility, but also unlikely in the short term. However, imagining it allows us to appreciate life’s adaptability.”
A world without humans would be a place of ecological reorganization, where new species could emerge to fill the voids left by our disappearance. Earth’s past has already shown that life always finds a way to reinvent itself.
Original article written by Rubén Criado, translated with the assistance of AI and edited by Roddy Cons.
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