Earth’s Oxygen Is Disappearing—And It’s Bad News for Humanity! – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel
What if the air we breathe wasn’t guaranteed forever? Scientists predict a future where Earth’s oxygen supply will collapse, suffocating most life forms. But why is this happening, and could we stop it?Earth’s atmosphere is currently rich in oxygen, supporting a vast array of life. However, new research suggests that this breathable environment is only temporary. Scientists predict that in about a billion years, Earth will undergo a dramatic shift, losing nearly all its oxygen and becoming inhospitable for most life forms.Earth hasn’t always been oxygen-rich. About 2.4 billion years ago, a major event called the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) dramatically increased oxygen levels, paving the way for complex life. But according to a study published in Nature Geoscience, this oxygen-rich phase won’t last forever.Researchers from Toho University in Japan and the Georgia Institute of Technology modeled Earth’s atmospheric evolution. Their findings suggest that as the Sun brightens over time, increased solar radiation will break down carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since CO₂ fuels photosynthesis, this decline will lead to less oxygen production.“For many years, the lifespan of Earth’s biosphere has been discussed based on scientific knowledge about the steadily brightening of the sun and global carbonate-silicate geochemical cycle,” points out Kazumi Ozaki, environmental scientist.Eventually, Earth will return to conditions similar to those before the GOE, dominated by methane and low oxygen levels.Although this transformation is a billion years away, once it begins, it will happen quickly in geological terms. Scientists predict that oxygen levels will drop by a factor of a million, leaving most oxygen-dependent life unable to survive.“The drop in oxygen is very, very extreme,” said Earth scientist Chris Reinhard from the Georgia Institute of Technology. “We’re talking around a million times less oxygen than there is today.”Without an ozone layer, Earth’s surface will be exposed to harmful solar radiation, making it even more inhospitable. Only anaerobic microbes—organisms that thrive in oxygen-free environments—will be able to persist.The findings also raise questions about how scientists search for extraterrestrial life. Oxygen is often considered a key biosignature, but if Earth’s oxygen-rich period is only temporary, then other planets may host life without ever developing an oxygen-rich atmosphere.NASA’s NExSS (Nexus for Exoplanet System Science) project is exploring alternative biosignatures, recognizing that oxygen alone may not be a reliable indicator of life beyond Earth.While humans won’t be around when Earth loses its oxygen, this research reinforces a crucial fact: our planet will not always be habitable. Long before the atmosphere changes, rising solar radiation and ocean evaporation will make survival increasingly difficult.This study underscores the temporary nature of Earth’s habitability. The oxygen-rich world we rely on today is just a phase in the planet’s long history—one that will eventually end, leaving behind a world inhospitable for most life forms.Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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