A mass extinction of mammals, including humans, could occur in 250 million years due to climate change.
The apocalypse, the moment humans become extinct and vanish from Earth… are familiar themes in science fiction or horror films. But will humans really become extinct or disappear in the future? The scientists’ answer is “Yes.”
Accordingly, scientists at the University of Bristol, UK, have just published a report of research results on the timing and scenarios that could lead to the disappearance of all life on Earth, including humans.
The scientists at the University of Bristol utilized a supercomputer to analyze all geological data, climate change, and tectonic plate movements—massive rock layers that form the surface of our planet… to predict the future of life on Earth.
Alexander Farnsworth, a paleontologist at the University of Bristol, along with colleagues, predicts that mammals, including humans, could only exist for another 250 million years. The new research was published in the journal Nature Geoscience on September 25. Specifically, the research team found that the climate will become dangerous due to three factors: a brighter sun, geographical changes in continents, and rising levels of CO2.
The sun sets behind power lines during a heatwave in Los Angeles, California, September 2022. (Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP)
Previously, astronomers predicted that the sun would become increasingly brighter and “consume” Earth in about 7.6 billion years. However, life may not last that long. As the sun emits more energy towards Earth, the atmosphere will heat up, increasing the amount of water vapor evaporating from oceans and continents. Water vapor is a potent greenhouse gas, which will trap even more heat. In two billion years, Earth could heat up enough to boil the oceans.
Farnsworth’s research predicts that a new supercontinent named Pangea Ultima will form along the equator in 250 million years. He invited Christopher Scotese, a retired geophysicist from the University of Texas, and other experts to run simulations for this distant future, monitoring the atmosphere above oceans, supercontinents, and mountains.
The research team noted that Pangea Ultima could be much hotter than today’s continents. One reason for this significant change is the sun. Every 110 million years, the energy released by the sun increases by 1%.
The supercontinent exacerbates the situation as land heats up faster than oceans. When continents merge into a massive landmass, there will be a vast area for temperatures to rise.
The topography of Pangea Ultima will also influence the climate. According to the new study, if Pangea Ultima resembles previous supercontinents, volcanoes emitting CO2 will be widespread. Due to chaotic movements of molten rock deep within the Earth, volcanoes could release large amounts of CO2 over thousands of years, causing temperatures to soar. Meanwhile, humans currently emit over 40 billion tons of carbon from fossil fuels each year.
Most of Pangea Ultima will become too hot for mammals, including humans, to survive. All could vanish in a mass extinction event. Farnsworth believes that mammals will lose the dominance they have enjoyed for the past 65 million years and may be replaced by heat-tolerant cold-blooded reptiles.
So what solution will humanity choose to prevent the scientists’ “apocalyptic scenario” from happening? Will we seek to “migrate” to other planets like Mars or the Moon… or will we find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slow global warming? Only time will tell.
