Scientists Believe This Creature Could Take Over The Earth After Humans Go Extinct

The surprising heir to humanity’s throne has been revealed—and it’s totally unexpected

Jesse

• Published in Animals
• November 20, 2024

The end of humanity is a topic we love to explore in movies, books, and late-night existential spirals. From apocalyptic robots to plagues of zombies, we’ve dreamed up countless scenarios where humans no longer call the shots. 

But if humans were to vanish from the planet, who—or what—might take our place as Earth’s next rulers? 

We’ve all entertained the idea of robots rising up (thanks, The Terminator) or perhaps even an alien invasion swooping in to claim Earth for themselves. But according to Professor Tim Coulson, the real answer isn’t found outside the galaxy, in the land—or even on land at all.

Think about it: humans have only been around for a blink of Earth’s history, yet we’ve shaped the planet in extraordinary ways. Still, nature has proven time and time again that it can adapt, evolve, and fill the void left behind. 

If we were to vanish tomorrow, another species would step up, and Coulson has a surprising candidate in mind. In his new book, The Universal History of Us, the Oxford Zoology professor sets aside robots and primates to present a different vision of Earth’s next rulers: octopuses. 

Yes, those squishy, eight-armed sea creatures might one day rule the world. Before you laugh, hear him out—because these clever cephalopods might just be nature’s answer to the question, “What comes after humans?”

Meet Tim Coulson, the zoologist with a bold theory about life after humans.

So, why octopuses? According to Coulson, these creatures are among the smartest, most adaptable species on the planet. 

While primates seem like the obvious choice to inherit the Earth, Coulson believes their similarities to humans are their downfall. Sharing our intelligence, social behaviors, and habitats makes them just as vulnerable to extinction as we are. 

If a catastrophic event wipes us out, chances are, they’ll go down with us. With primates ruled out, Coulson shifts his focus to a species that couldn’t be more different: octopuses.

Octopuses can solve complex puzzles, communicate through flashes of color, and even manipulate objects with a dexterity that would make any magician jealous.   

They also have decentralized nervous systems, advanced neural structures, and unparalleled camouflage skills—all traits that could help them thrive in a posthuman world. 

Coulson argues that octopuses' intelligence and resourcefulness could allow them evolve into a civilization-building species—assuming the environmental conditions are right. 

While their squishy bodies may not scream “future rulers,” their advanced problem-solving abilities might just tip the scales in their favor.

The future of Earth might just rest in these eight arms

But don’t pack your bags for an underwater dystopia just yet. Though Professor Coulson imagines octopuses slipping into our intellectual role someday, he admits that evolution's path remains a mystery.

Coulson also notes that it’s a long game. Humans, for all our flaws, are expected to stick around for a few million years more. If octopuses do rise to power, it won’t happen overnight—it’s more of a billion-year plan.

For now, though, octopuses remain the brains of the sea, quietly outsmarting crabs and solving escape room puzzles in aquariums. But if humanity ever bows out of the picture, we might just pass the torch to these marine geniuses.

Jesse