First ever supercomputer simulation predicts when humans will become extinct
Topics: Science, Technology, Climate Change
Gerrard Kaonga
Featured Image Credit: Kirill Rudenko/DrPixel/Getty Images
Topics: Science, Technology, Climate Change
While we might be aware of the short-term impacts of climate change, there is reason to believe the future could prove to be even more devastating.
Obviously the future isn’t certain and all possibilities scientists can theorize over may not actually come to pass, but if by some miracle we manage to avoid complete nuclear war and the issues that it brings, there are plenty of other ways humanity can go extinct.
Climate change might be the big one that eventually wipes us clean out as its impact become more severe as time passes.
With the possibility of Mother Nature completely wiping us out, a supercomputer analyzed various pieces of data relating to the Earth’s climate, tectonic plates, ocean chemistry and biology to find out when the human race is likely to become wholly incapable of inhabiting our home planet.
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The team from the University of Bristol conducted a study that explored how the world would look vastly different to how it is now - and luckily, it’s quite a way away from the present day.
Due to the tectonic plates, continents would move all over the place and create a new supercontinent called Pangea Ultima.
Dr Alexander Farnsworth said: “The newly-emerged supercontinent would effectively create a triple whammy, comprising the continentality effect, hotter sun and more CO2 in the atmosphere, of increasing heat for much of the planet.
“The result is a mostly hostile environment devoid of food and water sources for mammals.
“Widespread temperatures of between 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, and even greater daily extremes, compounded by high levels of humidity would ultimately seal our fate.
“Humans - along with many other species - would expire due to their inability to shed this heat through sweat, cooling their bodies.”
Only eight to 16 percent of the land would be habitable for mammals when this supercontinent forms and humans would seriously struggle to adapt to the new climate extremes.
Volcanos would erupt more regularly and we'd also be battling a brighter sun that would be dishing out some serious rays our way.
But you need not fear as this doomsday scenario isn't forecast to happen for another 250 million years.
The people behind the research believe this should still act as a warning sign for humans to address climate change.
Study co-author Dr Eunice Lo said: “It is vitally important not to lose sight of our current Climate Crisis, which is a result of human emissions of greenhouse gases.
“While we are predicting an uninhabitable planet in 250 million years, today we are already experiencing extreme heat that is detrimental to human health.
“This is why it is crucial to reach net-zero emissions as soon as possible.”