5 MARCH 1954, Page 7

Pressure on Space Sir Charles Darwin predicted in Karachi on

Monday that, if the increase in the world population goes on at its present rate, the human race will have standing room only on our Planet by A.D. 3954. I should rather like to know what, if this happens, the human race will be standing on. Tombstones today; of course by then take up much more room than they do '°uaY; built-up areas will be incomparably more extensive; and for some reason I visualize the spaces in between being carpeted with old gramophone records, empty cartridge-cases and the tops of Coca-Cola bottles. But perhaps things will turn out otherwise.