THE CREATURE MOST LIKELY TO RULE EARTH AFTER HUMAN EXISTENCE ACCORDING TO SCIENTISTS

Although it has long been thought that robots will eventually rule the world, one scientist has placed a wager that a marine species will eventually take control of the planet. Professor Tim Coulson has expressed his opinions on what (or who) might take over our planet after we are gone, and it has nothing to do with technology. We have all seen films like Terminator, The Mitchells vs. the Machines, and I, Robot. The Universal History of Us, a new book by Professor Coulson, a professor of Zoology and former head of Biology at Oxford University, explores the science of life and our existence.

Humans are currently the most common species on Earth, but Professor Coulson clarified that "other species could gradually take on new ecological roles" if we become extinct. He told The European, "I wondered which species might replace us and create the first non-human civilisation since life will probably continue on Earth for another billion years."

Since primates resemble humans the most among the animals that coexist with us, they might be the ideal replacement if or when we go extinct. Their resemblance to humans, however, might work against them, and Professor Coulson clarified that there's a chance they'll become extinct at the same time as us.

So what species might become the new dominant species on Earth, I hear you ask? 

Octopuses, apparently.

"Octopuses are among the most intelligent, adaptable, and resourceful creatures on Earth," the biology expert said. "Their ability to solve complex problems, communicate with one another in flashes of colour, manipulate objects, and even camouflage themselves with stunning precision suggests that, given the right environmental conditions, they could evolve into a civilisation-building species following the extinction of humans. "Their advanced neural structure, decentralised nervous system, and remarkable problem-solving skills make several species of octopus well suited for an unpredictable world.

"Especially without human influence, these traits could enable them to take advantage of new niches and adjust to a changing planet."

Who would have guessed?

Professor Coulson acknowledged that it is "impossible to predict with any degree of certainty how evolution will unfold over extended periods," even though he would wager that octopus would eventually fill our shoes and become "the brains of the sea." Humans are not predicted to become extinct for several million years, so those concerned that octopuses may replace them soon need not worry.