Populations

The mention of the 7 billionth human on the planet reminded me of my
wildlife management class in college. The thought was about [population
cycles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_cycle). Populations
grow until they outstrip the environmental resources available. The
population either migrates to some other environment or begins to
crash. This is an oversimplification. The two textbooks I have on the
topic total 1300 pages or so. The [UMN Extension
website](http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/youthdevelopment/components/6340-02.html)
is a good starting point.

However, the thought was about Humans on Earth. We're at 7 billion
beings. Save a natural predator or disease pandemic, we're going to
continue to grow and eventually outstrip our environmental resources. In
every science fiction book set in the far future, we either move to outer
space, colonize the moon and other planets, or we endure a population
crash.

I vote for the outer space option.

originally published at wiki.lewman.is