Question: Is There Intelligent Life on This Planet?

The above question was posed, in graffiti on a Cambridge (UK) college wall, some decades ago. Presenter Chris Packham hopes a new BBC series might focus intelligent behaviour to save the planet (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/10/fear-motivating-chris-packham-bbc-series-re-creates-extinction-event). The BBC series graphically illustrates the impact of volcanic eruptions, ripping through the Earth's crust 250 million years ago. These eruptions caused profound climate change, leading to mass extinctions. There are, of course, obvious parallels with the anthropogenic (human-caused) climate emergency. Packham thinks the programme's 'terror factor' might lead to people modifying their behaviour to prevent the next mass extinction event. I would like him to be right. I can't help feeling, however, intelligent people will always be outnumbered by folk, who act as if their 'profits' trump any sensible preventative measures. Incidentally, the answer provided by the ancient Cambridge graffiti artist was 'Yes, but I'm not staying'.