Scientists Just Figured Out How Much Time Is Left for Life on Earth
Yahoo • • general
Key Points:
- Scientists predict that Earth will be swallowed by the Sun when it becomes a Red Giant in about 5 billion years, ending the planet's existence.
- However, life on Earth is expected to vanish much earlier due to the Sun's increasing luminosity, which will disrupt the planet's climate and carbon cycle.
- A new study suggests that plant life, particularly those using CAM photosynthesis, could survive up to 1.8 billion years from now, extending previous estimates significantly.
- The study used 29 climate models to simulate various scenarios of carbon dioxide levels and temperature, finding that plant extinction will coincide with the loss of Earth's oceans.
- Researchers acknowledge limitations in their models, noting that future evolution of photosynthesis could alter these timelines, emphasizing life's resilience over billions of years.
