Nuclear war or asteroid strike will not end life on Earth; NASA-backed study reveals the real villain

If you worry about civilization’s longevity and count the possible causes like climate change, nuclear war, or asteroids, you can cross those off your list of final threats. According to new research from Toho University in Japan, the real long-term danger for Earth, supported by NASA, is a slow and subtle loss of oxygen — and it’s a billion years away. No, we are not talking about any plot of a post-apocalyptic movie, but a stark reality. The world as we know it won’t end in fire or ice, but in the gradual disappearance of breathable air. While it’s not something we’ll see in our lifetime, scientists are taking this seriously, as the countdown to oxygen’s extinction has already begun. So, what does this mean for the future of Earth’s habitable lifespan?

When will this happen

This NASA-supported study warns that Earth could lose its oxygen in about one billion years. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, predicts a gradual decline in oxygen levels due to changes in the planet’s atmosphere. This shift is linked to the increasing heat from the sun over time.

How will this happen

The study, led by scientists Kazumi Ozaki and Christopher Reinhard, used computer models to forecast Earth’s atmospheric changes. As the sun continues to get hotter, more carbon dioxide will break down. This will impact plant life, as plants rely on carbon dioxide to produce oxygen through photosynthesis. Without enough plants, oxygen levels will begin to drop dramatically.

“The atmosphere will return to a state similar to before the Great Oxidation Event, which happened about 2.4 billion years ago,” said Reinhard. This suggests that, in the far future, Earth’s atmosphere could once again become rich in methane and poor in oxygen.

What does this mean for us

The loss of oxygen would make Earth uninhabitable for humans and animals. This process may occur rapidly, with oxygen levels falling completely within 10,000 years. Only certain microbes would be able to survive under such extreme conditions.

Reinhard added: “It’s a reminder that even a planet like Earth won’t stay habitable forever.”

Why is this important

While this event is far in the future, it raises important questions for scientists studying the habitability of other planets. Since oxygen is often considered a key indicator of life, understanding Earth’s eventual loss of oxygen could help scientists better assess other planets’ potential to support life.

The findings show how complex and fragile Earth’s systems are, and how they can change over time, even without human interference.