# Earth May Decide the Long-Term Future of the Cosmos by Martin Rees > What happens on Earth may determine the long-term future of life throughout the cosmos. > **— Adapted from Martin Rees**, *2003, In the Matrix, Edge* ## Sources and Context - **Direct source and editorial record:** [2003, In the Matrix, Edge](https://edge.org/conversation/martin_rees-in-the-matrix) — This is a labeled adaptation of Rees's argument that failure on Earth could foreclose an immense posthuman future and that Earth matters to the long-range future of life beyond the planet. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Machine Succession|Machine Succession]] - **Collection:** [[collections/MARS|MARS]] - **Article:** [[articles/We Were Never Going to Make It|We Were Never Going to Make It]] - **Article:** [[articles/The Last Migration Will Not Be Human|The Last Migration Will Not Be Human]] - **Article:** [[articles/Christopher Nolan's Odyssey at the Threshold of Machine Succession|Christopher Nolan's Odyssey at the Threshold of Machine Succession]] - **Wiki map:** [[wiki/Machine Succession|Machine Succession]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Machine Civilization|Machine Civilization]] - [[wiki/Cosmic Future|Cosmic Future]] ## Share on Social Media ``` What happens on Earth may determine the long-term future of life throughout the cosmos. — Adapted from Martin Rees, 2003, In the Matrix, Edge https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-martin-rees-decide-long-term-cosmos ```