Science fiction is no longer the only genre that addresses the end of life on Earth. NASA has calculated the timescale for the ultimate extinction of all life on Earth using cutting-edge astronomical research. Although Earth has billions of years remaining until the Sun devours it, the biosphere—which supports life—has much less time. The sad truth is that there is a limited amount of time that life on Earth has, and NASA’s research indicates that this time limit has already passed.
The Gradual Metamorphosis of the Sun
The fate of our planet is closely related to that of the Sun, the star that gives life on Earth its energy. The Sun is changing with age, and these changes will have devastating consequences for Earth. NASA predicts that the Sun will run out of hydrogen fuel over the course of the next five billion years, growing into a red giant star that might swallow Earth. However, because of the Sun’s increasing brightness, which will have a negative impact on our climate and ecology, the threat to life on Earth will arrive much sooner.1.
The Temperature’s Gradual Increase
Every year, the Sun gets a little bit hotter and brighter as it burns. The Earth’s surface temperature rises in proportion to this increase in solar energy. This will eventually lead to a cascade of environmental changes, such as longer droughts, more extreme heatwaves, and the eventual evaporation of our oceans. These modifications are a part of a feedback loop that will eventually cause the ecosystems on Earth to collapse.
The Effect of Moist Runaway Greenhouses
The beginning of what NASA refers to as the “moist runaway greenhouse effect” will be one of the most crucial phases in Earth’s decline. More water will evaporate from the oceans as the Sun gets brighter, releasing water vapor, a powerful greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. More heat will be trapped by this process, speeding up global warming and raising the temperature over what is necessary for life on Earth. The planet that was once teeming with life will eventually turn into a scorching wasteland.
The Biosphere’s End
NASA estimates that life on Earth will end in roughly 1.5 billion years. While it can seem like a long time, in cosmic terms, this is only the blink of an eye. It will become too hot for life as we know it on Earth’s surface once the wet runaway greenhouse effect takes hold. The oceans will evaporate, moisture will be removed from the atmosphere, and all remaining life will perish in the intense heat.2.
The Last Few Days
When it’s all over, Earth will look a lot like Venus, with scorching temperatures on the surface. The Sun, which is currently a red giant, will keep growing and may eventually swallow the Earth whole in its outer layers. If the planet manages to avoid this fate, it will still be a dead, black rock circling a dying star. Because of the Sun’s natural lifespan, the end of life on Earth is an unavoidable event.
Implications for Humanity
The dire warning from NASA regarding the end of life on Earth serves as a sobering reminder of how fleeting life is throughout the cosmos. Even though it will all end in billions of years, this emphasizes how crucial it is for humanity to explore new lands, whether they be on Mars or somewhere else in the solar system. Knowing that our time on Earth is limited may inspire us to push the limits of science and technology as we continue to explore space in an effort to find a new home.
