Lancet report lists 17 long‑term health threats, two could end humanity

A new Lancet Commission report outlines 17 major catastrophic health threats that could persist to 2100, noting that two of them might lead to human extinction. It highlights preventable drivers such as obesity, poor diets, low education, income inequality, mental health issues, smoking and unhealthy ageing, alongside broader risks like pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, air pollution and armed conflict. The authors also warn that nuclear war and malicious uses of artificial intelligence, including biological weapons, pose existential dangers, and they urge governments to adopt policies that look beyond short electoral cycles and national borders.