The world just got less smart, or should we say a lot less smart. With today’s passing of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, the global IQ average has plunged almost a full point. This doesn’t sound like much until you consider there are nearly 8 billion other people on the planet.
According to Ari Brainin, spokesperson for Global IQ Watch, yesterday’s astounding nine-tenths of a point drop is the intellectual equivalent to a stock market crash. “We were waiting for the data to come in with great anticipation. We knew a few other really dumb people died and were hoping that would help, but none of us expected this kind of drop,” said Brainin.
Impacts on Humanity won’t be felt immediately, but they will be significant. Because of the fall in global IQ, it is now calculated that the first peopled missions to the nearest star system will be set back 11 to 12 years, and lasting world peace will be delayed by several decades. These are just a couple of examples.
“But maybe this is a good thing,” commented Brainin, hoping Hawking’s passing will inspire others to pick up the slack. “We as a species need to up our game and get smarter. We can’t just sit back and wait for it to happen. It’s what Stephen would have wanted.”