The Earth has surpassed the speculated apocalypse linked to Mayan predictions. Experts still serve caution that genuine threats still exist, with the potential to pose serious risks to the survival of the human race. A Forbes report outlines four potential ways the Earth might actually end. Scroll down to read more.
Earth will sink into the sun
The Astronomy website and BBC Science Focus have presented various scenarios for the potential end of Earth. One such possibility is Earth sinking into the Sun. According to these sources, concerns have been raised about the Sun transforming into a black hole. This could result in Earth being consumed by the Sun, ultimately marking the end of life on our planet.
The boiling of Earth’s oceans
The Earth can support life because of its size, mass, distance, and atmosphere. This setup has kept our planet habitable with plenty of water for billions of years. Oceans, crucial for life’s development, are now at risk. Changes in the Sun, like helium buildup in its core for nuclear fusion, are causing problems. This could affect Earth’s stability in the future. In a billion years, the Sun’s increasing heat might boil our oceans, causing a greenhouse effect and a major temperature rise.
A meteorite hits the Earth
A recent report from Astronomy.com highlights that 66 million years ago, a city-sized asteroid struck the Gulf of Mexico, leading to the extinction of numerous species on Earth. NASA indicates that such asteroid collisions occur approximately every 100 million years. Fortunately, before the next potential impact, humanity may face its own challenges, potentially avoiding direct impact consequences.
Reduction to a barren rock
In five to seven billion years, Earth’s future looks grim as the Sun runs out of hydrogen fuel. The Sun will change into a red giant, growing almost a hundred times bigger and much brighter. During this, Earth will be stripped bare and pushed away from the Sun. Inner planets like Mercury and Venus will be consumed. Eventually, the Sun will become a white dwarf, leaving Earth as a charred remnant orbiting a dead star.