Emigrating Beyond Earth: Human Adaptation and Space Colonization

305 Pages·2012·97.71 MB·English

by  Cameron M Smith

Emigrating Beyond Earth
Human Adaptation and Space Colonization

Cameron M. Smith and Evan T. Davies
Emigrating Beyond
Earth
Human Adaptation and Space Colonization
Published in association with
Praxis Publishing
~Springer
Chichester, UK
Dr Cameron M. Smith Dr Evan T. Davies
Department of Anthropology The Explorers Club
Portland State University 46 East 70th Street
Portland New York
Oregon 97210 New York 10021
U.S.A. U.S.A.
SPRINGER-PRAXIS BOOKS IN POPULAR SCIENCE
SUBJECT ADVISORY EDITOR: Stephen Webb, B.Sc., Ph.D., M.Inst.P., C.Phys.
1(cid:19)(cid:9)* 9(:;.;&’.&;..’&;/ 1(cid:19)(cid:9)* 9(:;.;&’.&;..’<;9 (eBook)
DOl 10.1007/978-1-4614-1165-9
Springer New York Heidelberg Dordrecht London
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012932259
©Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012
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Contents
List of Figures xi
List of Tables xiii
Acknowledgements and Dedications XV
About the Authors xvii
Preface xix
Part 1: The Context and Uniqueness of Human Evolution
and Adaptation
1 The Extraterrestrial Adaptation: Humanity, Evolution and
Migration Into Space 3
How Anthropology Will Assist Human Space Migration 7
Physical Anthropology 7
Archaeology 8
Cultural Anthropology 9
Linguistic Anthropology 9
Anthropology and Space Colonization 10
An Anthropological and Evolutionary Primer for Building an
Adaptationist Paradigm for Human Space Migration and
Colonization 13
Anthropology 13
Evolution 14
Adaptation 18
Culture 19
Humanity 26
Synthesis 27
2 Stardust: The Origins of Life, Evolution and Adaptation 31
Origins of the Universe and the Solar System 31
Formation of the Solar System and the Earth 32
The Origins of Earth Life 34
Independent Evolution of life on Earth 34
Panspermia 37
The Major Transitions in the Evolution of Earth Life 41
Transition 1: Replicating Molecules to Populations of Molecules
in Compartments 41
Transition 2: Unlinked Replicators to Chromosomes 44
Transition 3: RNA to DNA 44
Transition 4: Prokaryotes to Eukaryotes 45
Transition 5: Asexual Replication to Sexual Replication 45
v
vi Emigrating Beyond Earth
Transition 6: Protists to Multicellular Organisms 47
Transition 7: Eusocial Societies 48
Transition 8: Language and Symbolism 52
Larger Revolutions in the Evolution of Earth Life 52
Lessons from the Evolution of Earth Life 53
Early Hominin Origins and Evolution 54
Adaptive Evolutionary History of the Primate Order 55
The Early Hominins 56
Why Bipedalism? 58
The Australopithecines 60
Gracile australopithecines 61
Robust australopithecines 63
Evolution of Early Homo 64
Evolutionary Fate of the Australopithecines 66
The World of Early Homo 67
Increased Brain Volume 69
Increased Stone Tool Use 71
Increased Animal Tissue Consumption 73
Increased Body Stature 74
Decreased Tooth Size 75
Early Hominin Ecology, Behavior and Culture 76
Adaptive Lessons for Human Space Colonization 78
3 The Adaptive Equipment of the Genus Homo: Symbolism and
Niche Construction 81
Evolution of the Modern Mind 81
The Donald Model: Representing Reality 82
Echoes of Representation 85
The Mithen Model: Cognitive Fluidity 86
Echoes of Fluidity 88
Synthesis: One Mind, Two Models? 90
Major Adaptations in Human Subsistence and Social Organization 95
Niche Construction and Major Adaptations in the Evolution of Homo 100
Adaptations of the Genus Homo: Overview and Lessons for Human
Space Colonization 105
Part II: Arguments For and Against Human Space Colonization 111
4 A Choice of Catastrophes: Common Arguments for Space
Colonization 11 3
Extinction 115
Civilization Collapse 116
Natural Threats to Humanity and Civilization 123
The End-Ordovician Mass Extinction 126
"The Great Dying": The End-Permian Extinction 129
The End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction 132
Contents vii
Extinction of Humanity vs Extinction of Civilization 136
Human Threats to Humanity and Civilization 137
Civilization Collapse: Where Are the Maya? 137
Splendid Isolation: The Great Leap Backward of Ming Dynasty
China 139
Nuclear Conflict 142
Pandemics 143
The Worst-Case Scenario 145
The Only Way Out is Up 147
5 False Choices: Common Objections to Human Space Colonization 151
Introduction 151
The Usual Objections: Humans Cannot Colonize Space 152
Space Colonization Would Be Too Technically Challenging 152
Humanity is Not Meant to Live in Space 159
The Usual Objections: Humans Should Not Colonize Space 165
Space Colonization Would Cost Money That Should be Spent on
Earth Problems 165
Space Colonization Will Only Move Human Problems Off of
Earth 170
Space Colonization Would Simply Be An Unnatural, Technocratic
Project 172
Space Colonization Would Be Immoral 175
Conclusions 177
Part Ill: Human Adaptation to Space: Lessons from the Past
and Shaping the Future 179
6 Starpaths: Adaptation to Oceania 181
Oceania: Initial Colonization of the Western Pacific 182
The Lapita Culture 183
Lapita Subsistence 184
Lapita Raw Materials and Tools 184
Lapita Social Organization 187
Post-Lapita Voyagers and Colonists of the Pacific 189
Traditional Polynesian Sailing Vessels 189
Traditional Polynesian Navigation 195
Traditional Polynesian Sailing Voyages 199
The Traditional Polynesian Voyaging Ethos of Exploration 201
Oceanic Adaptive Lessons for Human Space Colonization 202
7 Building an Adaptive Framework for Human Space Colonization 205
A Closer Look at Adaptation 206
Defining Adaptation 206
Learning from Adaptation for Human Space Colonization 207
Lesson 1: Adaptations Arise from Ecological Opportunities 208
viii Emigrating Beyond Earth
Lesson 2: Successful Adaptations in Nature Can Be Characterized
and Learned From 209
Lesson 3: Benefits of Collaboration 212
Lesson 4: Biological Adaptations are Sustainable 213
A Framework for Human Space Colonization 214
Cognitive Shifts Necessary to Promote Human Space Colonization 217
Cold War/Militaristic -+ Humanistic/Families in Space/People 217
Industrial/Mechanical -+ Human/Organic 217
'The Right Stuff' /NASA Complex/Professional -+ Everyman/Pioneer 218
Short-term, Limited Goals -+ Long-Term, Infinite Future 218
Exploration -+ Colonization 219
Conquest of Nature -+ Adaptation to Nature 219
Limitations to Humanity -+ Increasing Human Options 220
Barely Possible -+ Possible and Routine 220
Destiny/March of Progress -+ Human-Directed Evolution 221
Costly Luxury -+ Responsible Investment 221
Spinoff Mentality -+ Survival Mentality 222
Technospeak-+ Common Speech 222
Principles of an Evolutionary/Adaptive Framework for Human
Space Colonization 223
Values 225
Build Towards Evolutionary Success 226
Use Adaptive Principles 226
Use the Potential of Exaption 226
Remember Proaction 227
Use of Nature-Based & Evolutionary Technologies 227
Use Technology for Humanity/Build Better Information Ecologies 227
Generate Cognitive Variation and Creativity by Encouraging
Do-lt-Yourself Projects 228
Continue Pure-Knowledge Research in Biology, Adaptation and
Extinction, and Learn From Them 228
Grow More Effective Human Space Colonization Decision
Cultures 230
Work to Human Strengths, and Beware Human Weaknesses 232
Strengths 232
Weaknesses 232
Synthesis 233
8 Distant Lands Unknown: Informed Speculation on the Human
Future in Space 241
Where Can We Go? The Moon 242
Where Can We Go? Mars 243
Farther Afield: Worlds Beyond our Sun 247
What Will Change in Human Extraterrestrial Cultures? 249
What Will Change in Human Extraterrestrial Biology? 251
Contents ix
Mutagenesis 252
Founder Effect 253
Holobiont Evolution 253
Communicable Disease 253
Minimum Viable Population 254
Domesticate Health 254
The "Other"? 256
Here There Be Dragons 263
Bibliography 267
Index 283