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Researchers outline a theoretical plan to help Earth survive the Sun's death through artificial sunlight and other futuristic technologies.
In about one billion years, the Sun is expected to exhaust the hydrogen fuel in its core and expand into a red giant. As it swells, the intense heat would strip away Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. Scientists believe the planet could eventually be engulfed.
Later, the Sun would collapse into a faint white dwarf, leaving the solar system cold and dim. Farther into the future, in about 100 trillion years, the universe is expected to stop producing new stars.
A new study argues that life on Earth may not have to end with those events. Instead of abandoning the planet, researchers outline a series of theoretical engineering projects designed to keep Earth habitable for trillions of years.
The proposals rely on technologies far beyond today’s capabilities and are intended to explore what physics may ultimately allow rather than what can be built now.
In about one billion years, the Sun is expected to exhaust the hydrogen fuel in its core and expand into a red giant. As it swells, the intense heat would strip away Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. Scientists believe the planet could eventually be engulfed.
Later, the Sun would collapse into a faint white dwarf, leaving the solar system cold and dim. Farther into the future, in about 100 trillion years, the universe is expected to stop producing new stars.
A new study argues that life on Earth may not have to end with those events. Instead of abandoning the planet, researchers outline a series of theoretical engineering projects designed to keep Earth habitable for trillions of years.
The proposals rely on technologies far beyond today’s capabilities and are intended to explore what physics may ultimately allow rather than what can be built now.
