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Economic Times
18 hours ago
- Science
- Economic Times
How will Earth take its last breath? New research gives a detailed description of how life on planet will meet its end
A new study, employing NASA's planetary modeling, predicts Earth's oxygen will vanish in roughly one billion years, much sooner than previously thought. Led by Toho University, the research highlights the sun's aging process as a key factor, causing increased water evaporation, rising temperatures, and a failing carbon cycle. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What has the research revealed? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Researchers shorten Earth's lifeline A groundbreaking study by researchers at Toho University, using NASA's advanced planetary modeling, has predicted a major shift in Earth's atmosphere that could make life as we know it in Nature Geoscience, the research suggests that Earth's oxygen could vanish in about one billion years—shedding new light on the long-term evolution of our planet's team ran 400,000 simulations to model how Earth's atmosphere might change as the sun grows hotter with age. While the predicted changes lie far in the future, the findings offer critical insights into planetary science and the eventual fate of Earth's study titled "The Future Lifespan of Earth's Oxygenated Atmosphere" explores a future in which oxygen becomes increasingly scarce due to natural changes in the planet's systems. Led by Kazumi Ozaki, an assistant professor at Toho University in Tokyo, the research examines the geological and astronomical factors influencing long-term shifts in Earth's role of the Sun One of the core factors leading to oxygen depletion is the sun's inevitable aging process. As the sun ages, it will gradually become hotter and brighter. This increase in solar radiation will significantly impact Earth's climate, leading to a series of irreversible changes:As temperatures rise, Earth's water bodies will evaporate more rapidly, increasing atmospheric water vapor levels. This warming will also cause surface temperatures to escalate, gradually creating conditions unsuitable for sustaining life. The heat will disrupt the carbon cycle—a crucial process that regulates atmospheric carbon dioxide—weakening its ability to maintain balance. As a result, plant life will begin to die off, stopping the production of oxygen through photosynthesis. Over time, these cascading effects will lead to a dramatic loss of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, rendering the planet increasingly research revealed that as the carbon cycle deteriorates, the atmosphere will revert to a composition reminiscent of early Earth, characterized by high levels of methane and low oxygen. This transformation mirrors the state before the Great Oxidation Event—a period when Earth's atmosphere became rich in oxygen due to the proliferation of photosynthetic scientific models suggested that Earth's biosphere would last up to two billion years, primarily due to overheating and the eventual depletion of CO₂ necessary for photosynthesis. However, this new research narrows the timeframe, suggesting a much earlier end to oxygen Ozaki emphasized that while the eventual demise of Earth's biosphere was acknowledged, pinpointing the timing and the precise process of deoxygenation remained elusive. This study, using advanced supercomputer simulations, provides a clearer understanding by simulating numerous potential scenarios.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
How will Earth take its last breath? New research gives a detailed description of how life on planet will meet its end
A groundbreaking study by researchers at Toho University, using NASA's advanced planetary modeling, has predicted a major shift in Earth's atmosphere that could make life as we know it impossible. Published in Nature Geoscience, the research suggests that Earth's oxygen could vanish in about one billion years—shedding new light on the long-term evolution of our planet's atmosphere. The team ran 400,000 simulations to model how Earth's atmosphere might change as the sun grows hotter with age. While the predicted changes lie far in the future, the findings offer critical insights into planetary science and the eventual fate of Earth's biosphere. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search ads Learn More The study titled "The Future Lifespan of Earth's Oxygenated Atmosphere" explores a future in which oxygen becomes increasingly scarce due to natural changes in the planet's systems. Led by Kazumi Ozaki, an assistant professor at Toho University in Tokyo, the research examines the geological and astronomical factors influencing long-term shifts in Earth's atmosphere. What has the research revealed? The role of the Sun One of the core factors leading to oxygen depletion is the sun's inevitable aging process. As the sun ages, it will gradually become hotter and brighter. This increase in solar radiation will significantly impact Earth's climate, leading to a series of irreversible changes: Live Events As temperatures rise, Earth's water bodies will evaporate more rapidly, increasing atmospheric water vapor levels. This warming will also cause surface temperatures to escalate, gradually creating conditions unsuitable for sustaining life. The heat will disrupt the carbon cycle—a crucial process that regulates atmospheric carbon dioxide—weakening its ability to maintain balance. As a result, plant life will begin to die off, stopping the production of oxygen through photosynthesis. Over time, these cascading effects will lead to a dramatic loss of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, rendering the planet increasingly uninhabitable. The research revealed that as the carbon cycle deteriorates, the atmosphere will revert to a composition reminiscent of early Earth, characterized by high levels of methane and low oxygen. This transformation mirrors the state before the Great Oxidation Event—a period when Earth's atmosphere became rich in oxygen due to the proliferation of photosynthetic organisms. Researchers shorten Earth's lifeline Earlier scientific models suggested that Earth's biosphere would last up to two billion years, primarily due to overheating and the eventual depletion of CO₂ necessary for photosynthesis. However, this new research narrows the timeframe, suggesting a much earlier end to oxygen production. Kazumi Ozaki emphasized that while the eventual demise of Earth's biosphere was acknowledged, pinpointing the timing and the precise process of deoxygenation remained elusive. This study, using advanced supercomputer simulations, provides a clearer understanding by simulating numerous potential scenarios.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Earth Will Lose Its Oxygen: Scientists Warn Of A Rapid Countdown
A recent study reveals that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere, vital for complex life, is expected to last approximately one billion more years. Increasing solar radiation will reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, impairing photosynthesis and leading to a sharp decline in oxygen levels. The study that was published in Nature Geoscience said that this deoxygenation could occur rapidly, rendering Earth inhospitable to most life forms. The findings also suggest oxygen may not be a permanent biosignature on habitable planets, impacting the search for extraterrestrial life. "For many years, the lifespan of Earth's biosphere has been discussed based on scientific knowledge about the steady brightening of the sun and the global carbonate-silicate geochemical cycle. One of the corollaries of such a theoretical framework is a continuous decline in atmospheric CO2 levels and global warming on geological timescales. Indeed, it is generally thought that Earth's biosphere will come to an end in the next 2 billion years due to the combination of overheating and CO2 scarcity for photosynthesis. If true, one can expect that atmospheric O2 levels will also eventually decrease in the distant future. However, it remains unclear exactly when and how this will occur," environmental scientist Kazumi Ozaki from Toho University in Japan said when the study was published. To examine how Earth's atmosphere will evolve in the future, Ozaki and Christopher Reinhard, Associate Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, constructed an Earth system model which simulates climate and biogeochemical processes. Because modelling future Earth evolution intrinsically has uncertainties in geological and biological evolutions, a stochastic approach was adopted, enabling the researchers to obtain a probabilistic assessment of the lifespan of an oxygenated atmosphere. Ozaki ran the model more than 400 thousand times, varying the model parameters, and found that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere will probably persist for another one billion years before rapid deoxygenation renders the atmosphere reminiscent of early Earth before the Great Oxidation Event around 2.5 billion years ago. "The atmosphere after the great deoxygenation is characterised by elevated methane, low levels of CO2, and no ozone layer. The Earth system will probably be a world of anaerobic life forms," says Ozaki. Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere represents an important sign of life that can be remotely detected. However, this study suggests that Earth's oxygenated atmosphere would not be a permanent feature and that the oxygen-rich atmosphere might only be possible for 20-30% of the Earth's entire history as an inhabited planet. Oxygen (and photochemical byproduct, ozone) is the most accepted biosignature for the search for life on exoplanets, but if we can generalise this insight to Earth-like planets, then scientists need to consider additional biosignatures applicable to weakly oxygenated and anoxic worlds in the search for life beyond our solar system.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
When will life on Earth end? Scientists now have the ‘exact date'
Scientists Just Predicted the Date Life on Earth Will Vanish Forever A groundbreaking study led by researchers from Toho University, using NASA's planetary modeling, has predicted a dramatic shift in Earth's atmosphere that could render life as we know it impossible. According to the research, Earth's oxygen will disappear in approximately one billion years. This prediction, published in the scientific journal Nature Geoscience, marks a significant development in understanding the planet's atmospheric evolution. The study ran 400,000 simulations to explore how Earth's atmosphere might evolve as the sun continues to age and intensify. While this drastic transformation may be far in the future, understanding the mechanisms behind it offers essential insights into planetary science and the future of Earth's biosphere. Scientists found Earth's 'expiration date', and it's sooner than you think The study titled "The Future Lifespan of Earth's Oxygenated Atmosphere" outlines a future where oxygen becomes scarce due to natural planetary changes. Led by Kazumi Ozaki, an assistant professor at Toho University in Tokyo, Japan, the researchers examined the factors contributing to atmospheric changes over geological timescales. The role of the Sun One of the core factors leading to oxygen depletion is the sun's inevitable aging process. As the sun ages, it will gradually become hotter and brighter. This increase in solar radiation will significantly impact Earth's climate, leading to a series of irreversible changes: Water evaporation : The heightened temperatures will cause more rapid evaporation of Earth's water bodies, increasing atmospheric water vapor levels. Temperature rise : Surface temperatures will escalate, pushing the planet towards conditions unsuitable for sustaining life. Carbon cycle disruption : The heating will weaken the carbon cycle, a critical process that regulates atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). Vegetation decline : As the carbon cycle falters, plant life will begin to die off, halting oxygen production through photosynthesis. Earth's atmosphere to lose oxygen The research revealed that as the carbon cycle deteriorates, the atmosphere will revert to a composition reminiscent of early Earth, characterized by high levels of methane and low oxygen. This transformation mirrors the state before the Great Oxidation Event—a period when Earth's atmosphere became rich in oxygen due to the proliferation of photosynthetic organisms. Key findings from the simulation Rapid deoxygenation : The simulations predict that Earth's oxygen will decline rapidly after reaching a critical threshold, potentially within a span of a few thousand years. Methane dominance : The oxygen loss will be accompanied by a significant increase in methane levels, reverting to a primordial atmospheric state. Uninhabitable conditions : As oxygen becomes scarce, most complex aerobic life forms, including humans, will find survival impossible. Factors contributing to oxygen depletion on Earth The decline in atmospheric oxygen is not solely due to solar changes but also involves complex geochemical interactions: Global carbonate-silicate cycle : This cycle, which helps balance CO₂ through weathering and sedimentation, will slow down, further contributing to atmospheric instability. CO₂ scarcity : As CO₂ levels fall, plants will no longer be able to perform photosynthesis efficiently, leading to a rapid decline in oxygen production. Thermal stress on biosphere : The rising temperatures will push Earth's ecosystems beyond their resilience limits, causing mass extinction and reduced biological activity. Earth's oxygen clock ticking faster than expected Earlier scientific models suggested that Earth's biosphere would last up to two billion years, primarily due to overheating and the eventual depletion of CO₂ necessary for photosynthesis. However, this new research narrows the timeframe, suggesting a much earlier end to oxygen production. Kazumi Ozaki emphasized that while the eventual demise of Earth's biosphere was acknowledged, pinpointing the timing and the precise process of deoxygenation remained elusive. This study, using advanced supercomputer simulations, provides a clearer understanding by simulating numerous potential scenarios. The implications for future research Understanding the lifespan of Earth's oxygenated atmosphere has profound implications for both planetary science and astrobiology. Researchers now aim to investigate how similar processes might occur on exoplanets, particularly those orbiting older stars, to gauge their habitability. Key research questions moving forward Can life adapt? While simple anaerobic organisms might survive, complex life would face extinction. Scientists are examining how life might adapt under drastically altered atmospheric conditions. Comparative planetology : Could planets in other solar systems undergo similar atmospheric shifts as their stars age? Technological interventions : Though purely speculative, future technology might aim to artificially maintain Earth's oxygen levels or migrate human life to other planets.
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Scientists Predict Exact Date Life On Earth Will End: Study
A supercomputer simulation by researchers at Toho University, using NASA planetary modelling, predicts that Earth's oxygen will disappear in approximately one billion years, making survival impossible. The study explored the likely evolution of Earth's atmosphere, running 400,000 simulations. As the sun ages, it will become hotter and brighter, affecting Earth's climate. Water will evaporate, surface temperatures will rise, and the carbon cycle will weaken, killing plants and halting oxygen production. The atmosphere will revert to a state of high methane, reminiscent of early Earth before the Great Oxidation Event. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, titled 'The future lifespan of Earth's oxygenated atmosphere', found the future lifespan of Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere is 1 billion years. "For many years, the lifespan of Earth's biosphere has been discussed based on scientific knowledge about the steady brightening of the Sun and global carbonate-silicate geochemical cycle," Kazumi Ozaki, Assistant Professor at Toho University, said in a news release. "One of the corollaries of such a theoretical framework is a continuous decline in atmospheric CO2 levels and global warming on geological timescales." "It's generally thought Earth's biosphere will come to an end in 2 billion years due to the combination of overheating and CO2 scarcity for photosynthesis." "If true, one can expect atmospheric O2 levels will also eventually decrease in the distant future. However, it remains unclear exactly when and how this will occur." While life could theoretically exist in such an atmosphere, it would be drastically different from what we know. Kazumi Ozaki noted that previous estimates suggested Earth's biosphere would end in two billion years due to overheating and CO2 scarcity. This new research narrows that timeframe, predicting rapid deoxygenation in one billion years.
