Ask A Scientist© Environmental Earth Science Archive

     name         Mike Collins
 >    status       student
 >    age          15

 >    Question -   Is there going to be a end to the earth.


Mike, the most recent computer simulations have the earth actually leaving
our solar system a few billion years in the future.  Earth will end up as an
iceball flying through outer space.  The good news is that we wont be burned
to a crisp as the sun expands before its final bow.
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    If protons decay, which some people say they will, then the Earth
will return to energy, electrons and positrons in about 10^38 years
from now.  The Earth will become uninhabitable when the Sun goes nova
or becomes a red giant, about 5 billion years from now.  The human
species will probably cease to inhabit the Earth in of order a million
years from now, as it evolves into something else, or becomes extinct,
unless we destroy ourselves sooner.
Grayce
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