Challenges for Life in the Local Universe Paul A. Mason∗y New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA Picture Rocks Observatory and Astrobiology Research Center, Las Cruces, NM, USA E-mail:
[email protected] Peter L. Biermann PoS(GOLDEN2019)059 Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy, Bonn, Germany Karlsruhe Inst. für Tech. Karlsruhe, Germany Univ. of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA Fachb. für Phys. & Astron., Univ. Bonn, Germany We address some of the major astrophysical challenges facing present day life, including humans, in the local universe. A truly successful species must break free of the cycle of evolutionary development punctuated by mass extinctions. This must be accomplished before the end of the relatively short habitability lifetime of its planet and within a window between major mass ex- tinctions. It is not inevitable that life will produce an apex species capable of understanding its vulnerability to extinction. Individuals must build a civilization - requiring hyper-social skills, and develop technology - requiring extraordinary mechanical skills. They must have the desire to understand the natural world and the universe well enough to anticipate, and even prevent, a variety of catastrophes. Ultimately, a space faring species is required; a quality not selected for naturally. Getting that far requires a great deal of luck. Getting beyond that, for humans and extraterrestrials alike, will require a sophisticated understanding of the physical universe and the accomplishment of tremendous feats of engineering. In particular, a successful species must learn to leave its home planet to avoid the demise of its host star. Eventually in fact, the Galaxy itself will become inhospitable to complex life during the Milky Way collision with the Andromeda galaxy.