End of the world? Scientists predict when life on earth will end – Technology News

A recent joint research effort by NASA and Japan’s Toho University offers a preview of Earth’s far-off destiny. The study suggests that the planet’s current oxygen-rich atmosphere—essential for supporting complex organisms—won’t endure indefinitely. Although oxygen in the atmosphere is a strong indicator of life, its long-term presence remains uncertain.

Scientists now project that breathable oxygen will remain for roughly another billion years before a major atmospheric transformation undermines Earth’s habitability.

This change stems from a complex, long-term interaction involving solar energy, atmospheric processes, and geological activity.

As the Sun gradually grows brighter with age, the intensified solar radiation will accelerate the decomposition of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This reduction in CO₂ will starve photosynthetic organisms, especially plants, of a key resource, causing a significant drop in oxygen output.

Utilizing advanced models of climate systems and biogeochemical cycles, the team ran over 400,000 simulations to forecast the timeline of this shift. Their results reveal that Earth’s oxygen-rich phase is just a short chapter in its total life span—only about 20 to 30 percent of the time it has hosted life.

Once this oxygen phase ends, Earth’s atmosphere will revert to a state similar to its early days: high in methane, low in carbon dioxide, and lacking a protective ozone layer. Such conditions will render the planet unsuitable for most current forms of life, leaving only hardy microorganisms that can survive in low-oxygen environments.

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