Earth will run out of oxygen sooner than expected – scientists

New computer modeling that takes into account thousands of parameters has shown that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere will disappear in about one billion years, rather than two, as previously thought. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, links this to increased solar activity. The atmosphere will return to a state before the Great Oxidation Event, leading to the demise of complex life.

New computer modeling that takes into account thousands of different parameters has shown that Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere will disappear much earlier than previously assumed. According to a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience, the critical tipping point will occur in about one billion years, rather than two, as previously thought. Scientists link this to increased solar activity, not just a carbon dioxide deficit. The atmosphere will return to a state that existed before the Great Oxidation Event: methane levels will rise sharply, carbon dioxide will disappear, and the ozone layer will be destroyed. As a result, complex life on the planet will cease to exist, and only anaerobic microorganisms will survive. The article references Sky at Night Magazine.