A question just for fun, to work your brain...?

Question

I already know the answer, but I want to see if other people know the answer. What is the one thing caused or made by man that will last the longest, possibly millions or even billions of years? Even if mankind becomes extinct, it will still be there....what is it?

Answer 1

Plastic and glass

Answer 2

I'm guessing this question emerges from Alan Weisman's book "The World Without Us" (see the link below).  A great thought experiment that looks at what would happen to the Earth if all of mankind were to simply vanish in one moment.

With this in mind, even 10 million years from now objects made out of brass would still be recognizable.  They will be the longest lasting man made items in the "earthly" realm.

From a broader look our radio and television broadcasts -- as broken up as they may be -- will continue on through the universe forever.  Our brief footnote for our time here might just consist of Gilligan's Island, I love Lucy and F Troop episodes beaming across the vastness emptiness of space.

The only other item I can think of would be the half million tons of Uranium-238.  It will take 4.5 billion years for that to finally reach its half-life.

Answer 3

Got to be pollution

Answer 4

Space probes, and satellites. You never said they had to remain on Earth.

Answer 5

plastics...radio waves or anything made from bronze i believe..

Answer 6

Plastic/styrofoam

Response...bronze?  Really?  Interesting.  Bronze is an alloy of Copper and tin (usually).  One would think that would eventually break back down.  Most charts I've found of biodegradation show plastic bottles as a "never" break down.

So I wonder...once an alloy, always an alloy?

Answer 7

An ingot of gold or a diamond.

Answer 8

The footprints of people that walked on the moon.  The only way they will be destroyed is if they are hit by a meteor, or one hits close enough to shake the moon hard enough that they get messed up, or if there is a massive solar flare that hits the footprints and bakes them out (melts them etc.)

Answer 9

pollution/trash