West Hartford, Connecticut, United States
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. He is sounding an alarm through his novels, 100 Years to Extinction and the sequel, 12 Years to AI Singularity, and in his website - https://100yearstoextinction.com and social media. 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, and social media. 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. I authored two award-winning books for students in grades 7–12. The Stardust Mystery and The Race to the Big Bang “I’m turning to older audiences with 100 Years to Extinction, (2025), and 12 Years to AI Singularity {January 2026)—both inspired by Hawking’s warnings Both novels are intended for both adults and young people who I hope will become deeply concerned about the world they will inherit. “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.” 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., established in 1980 and four others. One was sold and four are still operating. The technologies included clean fuels, process measurement, radiation detection, and science education. 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.
I began writing the novel, 100 Years to Extinction, as a wakeup call to young people about the dangers to human civilization from modern technologies. The pace of technology development has far outrun our society’s ability to safely regulate and control their many dangerous consequences.. I was inspired by astrophysicist Stephen Hawking’s 2017 prediction that humans will not exist on Planet Earth in 100 years. As a scientist, I worried Hawking was being optimistic. I agree with Greta Thunberg – our house is on fire! And it’s not just from global warming. My goal as an author and educator, is to make the technology dangers we face widely understandable to the public. My vehicle is a story told by three brilliant Gen Z protagonists. I have twelve grandchildren who will be facing these dangers, and I drew on their personalities to shape my young characters. The story follows the actions, romances, and emotions of the three new adults as they pursue different career paths. They confront the dangers and come to believe Hawking’s dire prediction is true. The three young people believe the older generations have left them a dysfunctional world, and it’s up to their Generation Z to save it. They vow to find solutions. They demand that we must come together as the Earthling Tribe to Make Earth Great Again. Let’s go, Earthling Tribe! Let’s put the fire out before our house is nothing but ashes.
TheBeamer LLC develops transmedia products (games, books, videos, AI backed expert avatars, TV production) for education and entertainment. Our resource development is being supported by National Science Foundation grants of over $1 million. Our aim is to provide resources for STEM education that present science through a compelling transmedia story. The Stardust Mystery is our story. Its theme is: “we are made of STARDUST that was once in the body of Albert Einstein and the last T-Rex.” And this is what students can discover in video games, science videos, illustrated story books, and Expert AvatarTM personal tutors. The STARDUST (atoms) that make up their own bodies was created in the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago and in subsequent star explosions during the evolution of the universe Those cosmic cataclysms created all the atoms in the periodic table that are the building blocks for Planet Earth and all life upon it Those atoms have incredibly small sizes and stupendously high numbers as they are systematically arranged in living and non-living things Those atoms have been shared during the history of Planet Earth. It is astonishing that each of us has over 5000 trillion carbon atoms that were once in the body of just once T-Rex and 300 trillion that were once in Albert Einstein The story is aligned with many of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for late elementary and middle school See our Science Videos on the STARDUST MYSTERY YouTube channel Visit our web page at TheStardustMystery.com