Traveling to places in space beyond Mars' orbit, faster than the speed of light, or surviving timescales longer than the time since Neanderthals existed pose different challenges, each with its own set of difficulties. Let's examine them individually:
Traveling beyond Mars' orbit: The main challenge here is the vast distances involved. The distances to other star systems are incredibly large, and our current technology does not allow us to travel at speeds anywhere close to the speed of light. The journey to even the nearest star system, Proxima Centauri, would take tens of thousands of years with our current capabilities. Overcoming the technological and logistical challenges of long-duration space travel, such as resource limitations, life support systems, radiation protection, and propulsion methods, remains a significant hurdle for future interstellar travel.
Traveling faster than the speed of light: According to our current understanding of physics, the theory of special relativity suggests that objects with mass cannot exceed the speed of light. This is commonly referred to as the "cosmic speed limit." While there have been speculations and theories about concepts like warp drives and wormholes that could potentially allow for faster-than-light travel, they are purely speculative at this point. The challenges of achieving such travel, if it were possible, would require revolutionary breakthroughs in our understanding of physics and the development of technologies that are far beyond our current capabilities.
Surviving timescales longer than the time since Neanderthals: Neanderthals existed tens of thousands of years ago, which is a relatively short timescale in the context of the age of the universe. Surviving for millions or billions of years would require long-term sustainability, adaptation to changing environments, and potentially even human evolution. Factors such as resource management, climate change, natural disasters, and the evolution of societal structures would all play significant roles in ensuring the survival and flourishing of humanity over such extended timescales.
In summary, while each of these challenges presents significant obstacles, the feasibility and difficulty of achieving them differ. Advancements in technology, scientific understanding, and human adaptation will be crucial in overcoming these challenges, but they are likely to require innovative solutions that are yet to be discovered.