AUTHOR PETER SOLOMON
Peter Solomon
Dr. Peter Solomon is a scientist, educator, successful entrepreneur, and author. His current mission: to warn the next generation about the threats posed by unchecked science and technology.
After earning his Ph.D. in physics from Columbia University, Dr. Peter Solomon launched a distinguished career at the United Technologies Research Center before founding five companies — Advanced Fuel Research, Inc., On-Line Technologies, Inc., Real-Time Analyzers, Inc., Image Insight, Inc., and TheBeamer LLC. The technologies included clean fuels, process measurement, radiation detection, and science education. Four of those companies — are still thriving today, and he successfully sold one, for $23 million that was merged into MKS Instruments. Over his career, Dr. Solomon has been awarded 20 patents, authored more than 300 scientific publications, and served as Principal Investigator on over $25 million in U.S. government research contracts and grants across two decades.
In 1991, Dr. Solomon won the American Chemical Society (ACS) National Henry H. Storch Award in Fuel Chemistry recognizing accomplishments in energy-related solutions that address global energy and chemical challenges. He was the Keynote Speaker at the Fourth Australian Coal Science Conference in 1990 and the 1991 International Coal Science Conference.
Dr. Solomon…I believe that astrophysicist Stephen Hawking’s dire prediction of human extinction on Planet Earth by 2117 may be right. The rapid pace of science and technology has far outrun our civilization’s social and political capabilities to control them, making for an uncertain future. The 18th and 19th centuries’ ingenious fossil fuel technology produced today’s global warming crisis. The 20th century’s brilliant nuclear technology created atomic weapons. The 21st century’s dangers are from AI, genetic engineering, social media, and plastic pollution. Over the next decade, my mission is to raise awareness and urgency in humanity’s effort to confront the technological threats that Stephen Hawking warned could lead to our demise.
Science and technology will shape the future of humanity—and my passion is making their complexities understandable to all. I believe the most powerful way to reach non-scientists is through storytelling. As part of my commitment to science education, I secured grants from the National Science Foundation and authored two award-winning books for students in grades 7–12. The Stardust Mystery and The Race to the Big Bang both received first place honors for Best STEM Book at the 2021 Purple Dragonfly Children’s Book Awards. Now, I’m turning to older audiences with my forthcoming novel, 100 Years to Extinction—inspired by Hawking’s warning about the future of humanity. It’s written for both adults and young people who are deeply concerned about the world they will inherit.
My novel 100 Years to Extinction explores the urgent threats—scientific, technological, and geopolitical—that could lead to humanity’s downfall, and the possible solutions that still lie within our reach. My goal is to raise awareness of the real dangers we face on Planet Earth and inspire action. If we are to avoid extinction, we must come together as one global community—what I call the EARTHLING TRIBE. It’s time to MAKE EARTH GREAT AGAIN.
Humans must change the way they think about the planet and our possible extinction before it is too late.
I am working on a novel inspired by astrophysicist Stephen Hawking’s 2017 dire prediction that humans would become extinct on Earth within 100 years. The story explores the science, technology, and world affairs threats that could lead to extinction and possible solutions. My goal in writing 100 Years to Extinction is to make readers aware of the real dangers we face on Planet Earth. We all need to act as members of the EARTHLING TRIBE if we are going to avoid extinction.
I was awarded a PhD in physics from Columbia University. I hold 20 patents in chemical processes and scientific measurement instruments, and have authored over 300 scientific publications. I was the winner of the 1991 ACS National Henry H. Storch Award in Fuel Chemistry, Keynote Speaker at the Fourth Australian Coal Science Conference, and the Keynote Speaker at the 1991 International Coal Science Conference.
I am the founder of five businesses involved in clean fuels, process measurements, radiation detection, and education: Four are still operating and one sold. I retired from business to devote myself full-time to make the science and technology that will affect our future available to all levels of readers. My passion is to change the way humans think about the planet and possible extinction before it is too late.
