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Side Note To The End Of The World

by travlinguy
16 replies
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With the end just around the corner I've been wondering about something. People have certainly had their impact on Mother Earth. I'm wondering how long it might take to completely heal the old gal.

So my question is this. Once all the people are gone how long will it take for every last bit of evidence that we were here to disappear?

There are billions of little monuments of humankind. Some very big, some small. How long would you say it'll take before all the roads, buildings, Twinkies, cars, and all the rest return completely to nature. I'd say around 10,000 years. What say ye?
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
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    The pyramids are still here, so it might take a few years.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Two blocks from my house is a street that runs along the Gulf water line. In 2005, prior to Katrina, that street was lined with manicured lawns and good sized homes with decks and balconies that looked out over the Sound.

      Then Mother Nature in e form of Hurricane Katrina took them down.
      Within five years you could drive down that street and if you didn't know better you'd think no homes had ever stood there. If you walk the street you will get a glimpse of a concrete foundation here and there but for the most part all evidence of the homes and residents have been overgrown by nature.
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    • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      The pyramids are still here, so it might take a few years.
      Yeah, conventional wisdom says they're around 5000 years old. Wonder what they'll look like in another 5K.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    Here you go:

    Aftermath: Population Zero - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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    Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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    • Profile picture of the author yukon
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      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post


      What they didn't mention was, on the east coast (US) we now have Kudzu which I think was brought here by man. I would imagine any state that currently has Kudzu would be completely overtaken by the plant.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        Good old kudzu - left alone it would cover Atlanta in about 6 months
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        Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
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    • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
      Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

      This is some pretty cool stuff though I'm not sure I agree with all of it. It says that 60 years AH (after humans) skyscrapers begin to crumble. Maybe. Though I think many will stay up longer than that.

      There are lots of things that can happen over the centuries. Massive storms, meteor showers, earth quakes, natural climate changes. The earth would change dramatically adjusting to humans being gone.

      The interesting thing about the pyramids is that the stones they're build from are so dense. They might be able to last 20, 30K years. Another thing, I know this has been discussed here, has it been proved they were build by humans?
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        There are two different shows that link refers to. They do differ in opinion a bit. I recommend checking them both out. I'd think they'd be Netflix.

        Regarding the skyscapers, they'd *begin* crumbling. Crumbling doesn't certainly mean they'd collapse.

        One of the shows - I can't remember which - said the last sign of mankind's existience - on earth, because our traces on the moon will last for millions of years - would be the Hoover dam. Apparently, the concrete is so thick some of it is actually STILL curing.
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        Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author markove
    Human being is just like a micro organism when compared to the entire existence. How can he spoil the grace of Nature? Is he able to do this? We may think that man is going to destroy the nature. Yes, but the fact is nature has the power to rebuild itself even if we completely destroy her. We can not kill the nature but if nature wills, all human kind will be killed in a fraction of second.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Mayo
    Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

    How long would you say it'll take before all the roads, buildings, Twinkies, cars, and all the rest return completely to nature. I'd say around 10,000 years. What say ye?
    Everyone knows if left unopened, Twinkies last for ever.
    It will be the only thing the next occupants find remaining leading them to believe that
    the reason for our extinction was caused by sugar diabetes...

    Have a Great Day!
    Michael
    PS, I know that Hostess closed down their production plants but it wasn't because they couldn't afford to produce products. It was because back in 1933 they made 250,000,000,000 Twinkies and their inventory just ran out. They were going to produce more but in 1933 they forgot to write down the recipe... :rolleyes:
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    • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
      In 10,000 years, the only thing that will be left will be Maccers, french fries!!!

      Shane
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by Michael Mayo View Post

      Everyone knows if left unopened, Twinkies last for ever.
      It will be the only thing the next occupants find remaining leading them to believe that
      the reason for our extinction was caused by sugar diabetes...

      Have a Great Day!
      Michael
      PS, I know that Hostess closed down their production plants but it wasn't because they couldn't afford to produce products. It was because back in 1933 they made 250,000,000,000 Twinkies and their inventory just ran out. They were going to produce more but in 1933 they forgot to write down the recipe... :rolleyes:

      Originally Posted by tagiscom View Post

      In 10,000 years, the only thing that will be left will be Maccers, french fries!!!

      Shane
      You can add those soft pretzels they sell at kiosks in the malls too.

      About 4 years ago while Christmas shopping, I got one of those things and then during the car drive home, I began feeling ill.

      When we pulled up into the driveway, I barely had the door open when I, er, well I upchucked in the drive.

      After the entire winter with many huge snowfalls and after the winter thaw in the spring, there was that darned regurgitated pretzel still in the drive way!

      What the heck kind of preservatives do they put in those things?

      Anyway, I bet they would still be around after the pyramids are long gone!!

      Terra
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    • Profile picture of the author joyfulwraps
      LOL Michael!

      And we know what happened to Twinkies recently
      Originally Posted by Michael Mayo View Post

      Everyone knows if left unopened, Twinkies last for ever.
      It will be the only thing the next occupants find remaining leading them to believe that
      the reason for our extinction was caused by sugar diabetes...

      Have a Great Day!
      Michael
      PS, I know that Hostess closed down their production plants but it wasn't because they couldn't afford to produce products. It was because back in 1933 they made 250,000,000,000 Twinkies and their inventory just ran out. They were going to produce more but in 1933 they forgot to write down the recipe... :rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    So the pyramids and some of the other ruins out in Egypt are already 5,000 years old - and nobody actually knows how old the sphinx is. They are still here - and in 1,000 years our remains are wiped. No seems to me that maybe we should have been building with stone instead of all that fabbed crap we use. The sphinx will be buried again in another couple hundred years, so will last god knows how long.

    So when beings from another planet explore - they are going to find Egypt again.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Lilley
    I say bring it on!
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  • Profile picture of the author ace21
    Even if humans were to disappear from the Earth, the evidence of our existence will always be felt. Certain extinct animals, such as the Dodo, will never come back. Although I don't want the world to end, mother nature would certainly be better off without us
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