Scientists make worrying prediction for what creature will take over planet if all humans die
Should humanity end up being wiped out, the burden of being the top dog on this planet will have to fall to another species.
We're not saying that the end is nigh or anything like that, despite the rise of a number of concerning conflicts around the world, but our species has long since developed beyond the point where we could wipe ourselves out in a matter of minutes.
There's enough nuclear warheads to destroy the world many times over, and while we hope it doesn't happen, the possibility is on the table.
We weren't always the apex predators of this planet; many millions of years ago, Earth was dominated by the dinosaurs until an asteroid came down and kicked off a series of events that led to their extinction and cleared the way for humans to rise without having to dodge a T-Rex.
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Can you imagine humans trying to build a civilisation while dinosaurs were still around? It'd be like attempting a Grand Designs build in the middle of a Jurassic Park enclosure.
If we end up shuffling our entire species off the mortal coil, then Professor Tim Coulson of Oxford University reckons he knows which species will supplant us.
They won't be the ones to wipe us out, we'll probably do that ourselves, but when the scientist spoke to The European about his book The Universal History of Us, he had some ideas on what might replace us.
Professor Coulson was asked whether primates would be humanity's natural successors, but decided against it as they 'would likely face extinction alongside humans, as they are equally exposed to threats in our shared environment'.
Basically, if something is going to wipe out the humans, then it's going to wipe out the primates too.
The expert said that whatever replaced us would have to be intelligent, but clever birds like crows, ravens and parrots wouldn't have the ability to build a civilisation.
Instead, he said that should humanity vacate stewardship of Earth, then the most likely inheritor is the octopus.
Describing the octopus as an 'unappreciated contender', Professor Coulson said that their intelligence and ability to use tools could give them the win.
"Octopuses are among the most intelligent, adaptable, and resourceful creatures on Earth," he explained.
"Their ability to solve complex problems, communicate with one another in flashes of colour, manipulate objects, and even camouflage themselves with stunning precision suggests that, given the right environmental conditions, they could evolve into a civilisation-building species following the extinction of humans.
"Their advanced neural structure, decentralized nervous system, and remarkable problem-solving skills make several species of octopus well suited for an unpredictable world.
"These qualities could allow them to exploit new niches and adapt to a changing planet, especially in the absence of human influence."
In this scenario, they wouldn't be building a civilisation on the land, but since the Earth's surface is mostly water, that wouldn't be a problem.
As far-fetched as this hypothetical scenario sounds, roll the clock back a few million years and wonder whether anyone would have tipped humanity's ancestors for greatness.
Joe Harker