The sun will destroy the earth within 7.6 billion years

According to calculations by University of Sussex astronomers, the earth will be swallowed by the sun within 7.6 billion years if Earth's orbit doesn't change.

Dr. Robert Smith said the team had previously calculated that the earth would escape the complete destruction despite being distorted and burned into coal. But these calculations do not take into account the effect of pulling power on the sun's outer atmosphere.

"We have shown that when the sun expands, it loses its weight to form strong winds, stronger than the current solar wind," Dr. said . This will reduce the sun's gravity on the earth and cause the earth's orbit to move outward, ahead of the sun. '

If it is the only effect, the earth will escape the complete ruin. However, the outer dilute atmosphere of the sun extends very far away from the visible surface of the sun, and it turns out that the earth is actually following orbits in these very thin outer layers. Pulling away due to dilute gas is enough to cause the earth to drift inside, eventually being "swallowed" and evaporated by the sun.

(Photo: iStockphoto / Sunagatov Dmitry)

The new work is partnering with Dr. Klaus-Peter Schroeder, formerly of the University of Sussex and currently working at the Department of Astronomy. Guanajuato University in Mexico.

Life on Earth is likely to disappear by the time of 7.6 billion years.Scientists have shown the gradual expansion of the sun will increase the temperature of the earth's surface. The ocean evaporates and the atmosphere will be full of water vapor, a large greenhouse gas that is no less than CO2. Finally, the ocean will be dry and the steam will escape into space. Within a few billion years, the earth will be a hot, dry and uninhabitable sphere .

Can this fate prevent it? Professor Smith mentioned a remarkable project proposed by the team at the University of Santa Cruz. The project proposes to utilize gravity with a large meteorite to push the earth's orbital earth to the outside of the sun. This process of pushing the earth needs to be repeated after about 6,000 years to avoid all risks to the earth and to help sustain the earth's life for at least 5 billion years, maybe even through the long red period of Sun.

Professor added: 'This is like science fiction. But it seems that the demand for energy can be met and the science and technology will be developed in the next few centuries. ' However, this is a risky solution, a small calculation error, meteorites will also crash into the earth and cause serious consequences. A safer solution is to build an interplanetary ' lifesaver ' team that can move out of the sun's reach but close enough to use its energy source.