How to advance humanity

Humans like to work under the impression of a time limit, and this is because we follow the instinctual behavior of perpetuating our species. Something as small as competition is a good motivator. When humans are motivated under the precedence of an impending disaster or something like that, humans work efficiently and quickly. Take a look at the Space Race, because of the Soviets and Americans competing to go to Space, many inventions were invented and many discoveries were discovered. We should invoke an incentive in us, make us believe an asteroid is heading towards earth so humans thrive to advance space transportation so we can go to other planets. This does sound like the techniques used by the media to hold control of the masses but it is for a good purpose.