Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest minds of our time, reshaped our understanding of black holes and warned of threats that could “lead to global catastrophe” if ignored. His prediction that Earth could become a “giant ball of fire” by 2600 stemmed from fears about overpopulation, rising energy demands, and climate change.

Hawking also saw dangers in artificial intelligence, warning it could “surpass human intelligence” and spiral beyond our control. Without strong regulations, AI could replace jobs, manipulate information, and fuel deadly conflicts. Nuclear war remained a major fear; he cautioned that reckless political decisions could trigger a “nuclear winter,” causing famine and mass extinction.

He also warned about genetically engineered viruses, predicting that a bioengineered outbreak could be more devastating than natural diseases. If used as bioweapons or through accidents, these pathogens could spread globally.

Despite these grim possibilities, Hawking believed humanity could avoid disaster. He urged action: “Governments must invest in clean energy, regulate AI, reduce nuclear weapons, and monitor biological research.” His warnings were not meant to cause panic, but to inspire change. As he reminded us, “The future is in our hands.”