Individuality

Here are some mind-boggling figures: If human population growth continues at its present rate, by the year 3530 the total mass of human flesh and blood will be equal to the total mass of the earth itself. And by the year 6826, the total mass of human flesh and blood will be equal to the total mass of the Universe. The total human population in the time of Julius Caesar was 150 million. Today, the human popula- tion increases by 150 million in just two years.

In the next two minutes 200 human beings will die, but 480 will be born. Statisticians inform us that about 60 billion human beings have been born thus far. But given all these big, impressive numbers, perhaps the most mind-boggling statistic of all concerns our uniqueness as human beings—our individuality: If you were to line up every single human being who ever lived or ever will live, and you took a good look at every- one in that mind-boggling crowd, you wouldn’t find a sin- gle person quite like you!