If war or famine doesn’t kill us, technology sure will.  As we become more and more advanced, the technology we create poses more and more of a challenge that could lead to catastrophic consequences like affecting the Earth’s environment or creating something that takes on a mind of its own.  Science-fiction has proved to us we have more to fear from technology than the perceived benefits.  Here are the most likely ways technology will strike.

7. Wi-fi/cellular radiation

Your cell phone is going to give you a brain tumor, make you infertile, or both at the same time.  All the waves and what-not flying around our heads is also killing us slowly with a relentlessly malicious intent.  As we start packing in internet and phone and video into more and more gadgets, our pockets will fill to much we won’t even be able to walk, leaving us at the mercy of the wi-fi waves and cellular radiation.

6. Hackers and computer viruses

Already many live in fear their computers, cell phones, or even video game consoles will be infected by a vicious computer virus or hacked by a vicious hacker who will steal all their money.  These fears are both logical and rational and will only get worse.  Hackers will get better with stronger more intelligent viruses while security software slows to a crawl thanks to patent lawsuits and tons and tons of money made off of our fears.  Eventually, some virus will go all Y2K on us an send our nuclear missiles flying or send airplanes crashing or turn off our refrigerators, spoiling our milk, and starving us all.

5. Global warming

This one’s so scary, it’s actually happening.  All our cars, planes, cows, and killer robots expel secret gases that are killing the ozone layer, leading to a slight warming of the Earth with catastrophic results.  The ice caps melt, plants and animals die out, and the skiing industry will collapse leaving an unrecognizable desert of a world.

4. Alien invasion

As send out communications, probes, and starships farther into the deep expanses of space, we get closer and closer to alien lifeforms.  Some might be peaceful, but if Star Trek taught me anything, most want to kill and destroy us.  Once these aliens find out where Earth is (they always do), they’ll jump in their armada of flying saucers and enslave us all to become part of their evil interstellar regime.  Our only hope is this alien culture has an appreciation for soap.

3. Nuclear radiation

In trying to wean ourselves off oil and insane alternatives like corn or solar, we might send ourselves down another tragic path called nuclear holocaust.  If the missiles don’t kill us, our power plants will.  Most of the human population will die and those that remain will become hideous mutants, tragically roaming the Earth for scraps to survive.  It’s no way to live.

2. Genetic engineering

Sure we might cure major illnesses and make everyone’s lives better, but we’ll also create an arms race for who can code themselves to be the best of the best of the best.  This will create a new class of super humans who will continue to fight for genetic supremacy until we all just eat each other and build forts out of their bones.  It could happen.

1. Powerful artificial intelligence

From Skynet to the Matrix, it’s obvious sentient computers are going to kill us all.  As our computers get more and more powerful, they get closer to the point they can improve on their own, learning and expanding on things not initially programmed into them.  This would be an amazing technological achievement, but would also create our new lords and masters as these robotic geniuses would be our superiors in every way - faster, smarter, and more efficient.  Almost like Chinese only with unregulated internet access.