A computational analysis created a picture on what will humans look like 100,000 years from now.
Nickolay Lamm, a researcher and artist, worked with Dr. Alan Kwan, an expert in Computational Genomics from Washington University, made an experiment to answer a question they have on their mind ‘What Will Humans Look Like in 100,000 Years?’ in 100,000 years.
They used zygotic genome engineering technology to see the possible gene mutation humans may undergo to keep up with the changes of the environment. Natural evolution may take place when there is a need for survival.
Before humans arrive to its final state which is shown in the picture above with cat-like huge eyes, series of changes will happen first.
Now that space explorations are booming and people are getting more aware of the celestial things surrounding us, Dr Alan. Kwan predicts the human brain will slowly increase its size but not like the alien-head that we see in the movies. The entire head will be larger 20,000 years from now and will look almost the same except that the forehead is faintly too large. Google Glass may be a common communication device by then.
Kwan detailed other changes that may happen: larger eyes to adapt with the dim environment as Earth moves further from the Sun, more pigmented skin to lessen the impact of the harmful UV rays, and thicker eyelids to adapt with the decreasing gravity otherwise we will all have poor eyesight.
The result of the computational analysis putting all these factors resulted to an image which Lamm posted on his report. The features are not very alien-like but are more interesting. However, both would like to clarify that this is not a scientific discovery or prediction but more of computational analysis.
Dr. Kwan actually sent an email to Forbes for misrepresenting the product of his computational analysis or experiment. Excerpt of an email says:
“I’m confused by why these speculations are being passed around as science when the original question I was posed was merely, “what do you think the human face might look like in 100,000 years and why?” The verbiage belies an opinion or thought experiment, NOT science. My experience has thus far convinced me that while science and technology may advance at an accelerated rate, legal, social and cultural norms will inevitably temper that pace greatly, as it has in the past. Ultimately, you took one man’s speculation for a simple thought experiment and “exposed” it for not being “real science”.
