What is the meaning of life? What is the fate of the universe? Those are just two of the most compelling questions that have challenged the greatest physicists, philosophers, and anthropologist since the beginning of time as we know it. Throughout time mankind has continuously asked these same questions. Many answers can be found in simple holism, which is the concept that a complex system or question cannot be determined or explained by breaking it down into parts alone, but instead the system as a whole must be observed and speculated in order to answer or determine a conclusion, (Kaku). Much of the history that leads to our existence can be found in the immensity and vastness of space, but first we must conquer and master space travel by colonizing space itself. It is time make changes within the world in order to accommodate with the exponential growth of technology. That means expanding our boundaries and colonizing space. There are many thoughts regarding the idea of colonizing space, some are ideas of the pessimistic, some think it is absurd, while some believe it is impossible. Most people may believe that the exploration and colonization of space will be a waste of time, money, and effort, but the truth is that the exploration and colonization of space is necessary for mankind to continue our existence in the universe.

There are four types of civilizations. In which we specifically can rank them by energy consumption. In a seminal paper published in1964 in the Journal of Soviet Astronomy, Russian astrophysicist Nicolai Kardashev theorized that advanced civilizations must be categorized according to three types: Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 type civilizations which have mastered galactic energy consumption, and space travel in which are calculated by a difference of billions (Kaku). A type 1 civilization is one that harnesses the energy of an entire planet. A type 2 civilization is one that harnesses the energy output of an entire star, and generates about ten billion times the energy of a type 1 civilization. The type 3 civilization is one that harnesses the energy output of an entire galaxy, or about ten billion times the energy output of a type 2 civilization (Kaku). Right now, the human civilization is a type 0, in which earth relies on any or all possible energy sources available just to survive.

The type of civilization and economy also determines the lifestyle of a civilization; this idea must be displayed from an astronomical aspect. For example, considering that Earth today is a type 0 civilization in the process of becoming a type 1 civilization, the lifestyle of the planet from a global aspect is terrible. Presently in earths type 0 civilization we have war, hunger, poverty, conspiracies, genocides, and much more disruption in the world. More than half the world lives on less than two dollars a day (Global Issues)! The inhabitants of planet earth are in grief and live poor lifestyles. Eventually at some turn of a century Earth will have made its final transition to a Type 1 Civilization, by then civilization will have made several trips to different planets in the solar system, and will have solved many problems of economy, government, disease, and possibly war. Though it is predictable that even a Type 1 Civilization will still be faced with poverty, hunger, and genocide, versus solutions. When coming to conclusion to the transitions that a civilization will go through, it can be said that as a civilization advances the more comfortable lifestyles will be, and so will economic attainment. As we advance lifestyles and prosperity amongst the universe, man’s greatest frontier will continuously change as we arise above bigger problems human civilization will be faced with, and problems of today will be problems of the past as the hands of humans reach out into the heavens.

One of the most fascinating subjects of space and the unknown is the idea of extraterrestrial life. The existence of intelligent life is a compelling idea by itself, in which extraterrestrial beings may exist on other stars that are centuries to millennia more advanced than earths own. Within the Milky Way Galaxy alone, there are over one hundred Billion stars, and there are an uncountable number of galaxies in the universe (Guy). About half the stars in the galaxy are double stars, making them possibly unsuitable for intelligent life, but the remaining half probably have solar systems somewhat similar to our sun’s system (Kaku). Though to many other people this idea of life beyond our understanding may seem ridiculous to them, but one should never doubt the idea. Many respond by saying if they existed they would have already came. Well, think of it like this. When someone comes across an ant hill, which would be a primitive concept of civilization compared to our own. They will either step over it, or kick it, and destroy the ant hill. Now, why would an advanced civilization attempt to bother with our primitive civilization that can barely get out of the earth’s gravitational field? Despite the morality of that concept, does not mean that it is true. If human civilization ever happened to encounter a type 3 civilization it is very possible our civilization would work together and share technologies to continue advancement, it would be a new type of contact. It would eliminate the idea that countries and boundaries are foreign, but the new foreigners would be those from other planets. It would cause a conclusive unexplainable feeling for the earth to work together as one, as a world nation. This concept moves us to diplomacy in the journey to colonize space. It may be a subject not many understand, as to how the colonization of space could possibly bring world peace in the long run.

It’s obvious that the Earth is not perfect; many even believe that our world leaders are leading us into the direction of complete chaos. Despite the world’s current condition, even with disease, war, poverty, and global warming talk going about. It is evident that one of the greatest benefits of the colonization of space would be the future diplomatic potential that can have a 180 degree turn on the earth’s current positions. The concept where each planet is ruled and governed independently as one nation. This concept of a federation of planets would make it impossible for wars among the countries of each planet, unless civil. This means world peace, the planets will also have strong economy due to all the imports available from nearby resources in space. If Mars were to be colonized it would have a very strong economy, it may even surpass Earth in technological advances. In the near future the borders to Canada and Mexico will be removed from the U.S., so that the U.S. can become the “North American Union,” or NAU. Much like the European Union, and African Union and soon to be Asian Union, our currency will be changed to the “Amero,” like the Euro used in the European Union. This concept for the U.S. has been in the blueprint stages for a while, but it was recently mentioned on CNN. Much of the U.S. is not familiar with the concept, that’s because the government has kept it secrete for so long. It will remove the immigration laws, rid the national debt, and better our economy. In the long run, these continental unions are governments that contribute to the concept of a world nation. The unions are not opponents but allies working together under the same laws. The world is already becoming prepared for greater things and visions of a better lifestyle. Diplomacy is very important and each idea is creative, and contributes to how planets will be governed.

Not many people know the true absolute meaning for the declaration of wars. Many Americans take war lightly, when it is a serious thing. Despite the hundred million alternative resolutions to war, most countries first reaction to an attack is to attack back, even without thinking. Without thinking, our world leaders target every other country as antagonist. Acknowledging how countries today respond to problems with war, they appear to be primitive, barbaric, and simply childish. Without taking into consideration that the growth of technology is exponential, meaning technology is growing at a extremely fast rate. Every year technology doubles in advancement. That means the next time we drop a bomb, it will not just destroy a town or an area, but it will destroy countries or even continents. With bombs able to do that much damage the toxic elements that the bomb emits will be trapped within the earth’s atmosphere and flow across the globe killing millions to billions of people. This is alarming, but not only is space exploration advancing technology but it is also improving socialism. Space exploration is one of the few things that allow countries to collaborate together. For example, the ISS or International Space Station, International meaning that the countries are working together toward something, this something must have a lot of meaning for countries even opponents to come together and collaborate. The colonization of space is not a rat race, but it is a project. When countries work together it improves communication skills between each other. Socialism is not the transition or stage to communism, but the concept of countries working together creatively for a better future. War comes from people not being able to communicate, or differences in culture, and religion, but last but not least the reason for war comes from hate. When countries work together all differences can be put aside, this is the true outcome from global socialism, and diplomacy.

Technology is now apart of today’s culture and lifestyles of many people around the world. Technology now allows people to express themselves even in way’s that art and poetry cannot allow people to express themselves, technology is the future console of life. The most unexpected innovations come from technology, what was once science-fiction is now reality as everyday we continuously advance every gadget, television, and computers. Many philosophers have even wondered what our technological future holds for us. Some wonder if robots will become so advanced they will be able to fight against the desires of there masters. John Von Neumann, mathematical genius of Princeton University who developed the first electronic computer during World War II, proved discreetly that robot’s or automatons can be built with the ability to program themselves, repair themselves, and even create carbon copies of themselves(Kaku). As space exploration continues and advances, so does the technology double it’s advancement in space exploration. During this span of time Earth will take for its transitions from each type of civilization, the world of technology will change greatly every century. Lifestyles and the cost of living will double and increase, as we move into warless comfortable worlds. Technology will soon pamper the elderly and take care of them, while at the same time doing the most dangerous space missions human’s would not be able to do physically. Technology is a great thing, but every good thing has its consequences. The advancement of technology will also lead to not only comfortable lifestyles, but comfortable interstellar space exploration. Eventually technology will enable humans to travel faster than the speed of light, possibly through some kind of Photon ignitions. Technology will even enable us to someday tear holes and bend space-time at will allowing us to commute to stars through hyperspace within minutes.

Hyperspace is a space dimension greater than three; it is a dimension some physicists believe light travels through. In order to enter hyperspace a vehicle will be required to reach planck energy, which is about the energy a star emits in its whole lifetime (Lee).With this amount of energy someone would be able to tear a hole in space time and jump or warp to or through another dimension. One prolific idea sprouted from Hyperspace is time travel, time travel is a process that would allow us to discover our origins and answer many questions people have. Although it sounds like science-fiction it is not so much of science-fiction but very possible. Carl Sagan, who was a consultant and adviser to NASA since the 1950’s, explained how time travel is possible (History Channel). With the help of two other physicist from the University of Michigan, they explained that time travel is possible with certain equations from Einstein using the Einstein-Rosen Bridge (Kaku). For example, in the movie déjà vu’ one of the scientist mentioned that through using the Einstein-Rosen Bridge they were able to bend space-time allowing them to catch a criminal before he commits the crime. There are endless benefits someone could pull from Hyperspace, and stopping disasters before they happen is only one. Hyperspace will allow travel across the universe comfortably allowing humans to expand our existence. This is especially good considering that our very existence is fragile.

The universe we live in today is unpredictable, chaotic, and strange. Our meaning of existence is still officially unknown while many others fit to there beliefs. Human existence is targeted by war, global warming, natural disasters, space impacts, and other catastrophic scenarios. Millions of people believe that the end of the world is coming, even in the Bible it say’s so, though it is a miss-interpretation, the correct translation is the end of the age. The colonization of space will serve as the stepping stone to continue our existence amongst the universe. For example if something happens to the Earth humans will always be able to continue there existence on another planet. Humans would be able to continue avoiding the end of mankind. Some people believe that the end to our existence is inevitable, but through space exploration and colonization it is not.

The world of medicine has many antagonistic diseases that doctors are faced with everyday. Even today people manage to be affected with unknown and new diseases as viruses and cells mix to create more. As humans continue our existence and exploration in space there is no doubt that there will be discoveries found in space that will change millions of lives. For example, cancer is a type of cell everyone is born with; the more the person exposes themselves to harmful radiation the cancer cells will multiply. When the cancer cells multiply enough then the person would be diagnosed with cancer. Say that during a mission in space a scientist working on an asteroid mine finds a strange parasite, or anti-virus. The strange parasite would be sent to a laboratory were lots of research would be conducted on it. Just so happens the parasite is non lethal, but feeds on cancer cells. That situation of discovery would be a medical breakthrough; continuous research would be conducted until the scientists are able to synthesis a vaccine for cancer. There are thousands of different diseases and birth defects on earth that could possibly benefit from discoveries found in space. Humans do not know what to expect when going into space, the possibilities are endless within its vastness. Even Mars may have medical discoveries waiting to be found within the lifeless world. If human civilization were to ever colonize all of space it is inevitable that immortality would be discovered. DNA cells are molecular, and they all have a particular job to do, for example the Telomeres chain together to protect important DNA. But these cells do age and overtime die, if it was possible to keep these cells alive during a person’s middle age, they could possibly live forever. Perhaps the key to immortality is floating about somewhere in deep space, beyond the average humans mind ability to think the limits of its vastness. Though if immortality were discovered it would defeat the meaning of life.

As civilization starts to conquer space we will begin to notice economic, diplomatic, and social changes everywhere. Ever since the Publication of the ‘Philosophae Naturalis Principia Mathematica’ by Sir Isaac Newton in 1687, there has been an unseen competition between countries for wealth, and power through Technology and Science. In 1947, Fruit Flies become the first travelers to space, 10 years after that you have the First Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, First Artificial Satellite, and First Live Animal in Space. Only one year after those events there was the first American Satellite, and the establishment of NASA. In 1961 the world sent the first man to space. These events were the establishment to an everlasting “silent war” of Science and Technology, the nations that participated in the scientific war of innovations prove to be the most successful and wealthy nations. Such as Russia, U.S., Iran, China, Japan, U.K., and France, countries like those set the example. The previous factors are all I really need to prove that the exploration and colonization of space is not a waste of time, money, and effort. Global Warming is an event that is happening in reality, though people go through life with there eyes closed, not realizing the seriousness of earth’s circumstances and Global Warming. Even if we did do something, we could not stop Global Warming from happening. It is obvious that if mankind wants to continue existence we must begin to step into the new frontier, space. When Neil Armstrong said “That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind,” the history of space exploration was changed forever. Future human existence is depending on space exploration, but we are too blind to see this. It’s time to wake up, realize, and open your eyes to a new and better future.