Sun in the Future: Will Its Entry to Expansion Phase Still Enable Earth to be Inhabitable?

Recent space reports have it that scientists have observed thousands of stars in the galaxy to solve the mystery of the future of the Sun.

As specified in a report from The Press Stories, the Sun will enter an "expansion phase," although no one knows "for how long." Such a phenomenon is not good for the planet, as the Sun will be inhabitable long before it reaches the highest temperature.

Similar to all living things, stars have a life cycle, too. Fortunately, they have quite a long lifespan. In fact, one medium-sized star akin to the Sun can provide energy for billions of years.

Certainly, too, their longevity depends on their mass. The largest died off after a few hundred million years. On the contrary, the youngest stars have a lifespan of 50 billion years.

Such a scenario will leave one dissatisfied. Nonetheless, this is consistent with reality. Scientists have said, the star will turn into a "red giant" five to seven billion years from now.

In a billion years, the oceans will disappear, and the Earth will turn into a desert. As it is known, life will be totally destroyed, as indicated in this report.

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(Photo: NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) via Getty Images)
In this handout from NASA/Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), an X5.4 solar flare, the largest in five years, erupted from the sun's surface on March 6, 2012.

The Earth's Habitability

In a Michigan Today report, it was specified that more recently, one Michigan alumnus asked the same question, "If the goals of the Paris Agreement are not met, will the Earth still will be uninhabitable in 2100?"

The answer is, according to Professor Richard Rood, from the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering in U-M's College of Engineering, "Of course not." He explained that if Earth is inhabitable in 2100, it will not be since the climate cannot support human life.

As one considers the question of habitability, the immense temperature ranges should be recognized, and precipitation is already characterizing the climate of Earth. People have adjusted to extreme cold in Siberia.

Others thrive in the hot, arid Middle East. The remarkable underground tunnels bringing water from the Turpan Oasis in Northwest China offer historical testimony to the abilities of humans to adapt.

In the climate of 2100, there will be many environments between these current extremes. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that Earth will be habitable.

Life Sustained

Essentially, humans have always experienced changing climates, not to mention, harsh weather. It is part of humans' very nature. Humans have grown accustomed to huge and small adaptations in the temperate, mostly table climate of the last 10,000 years.

Humans have internalized expected climate extremes in both their behavior and practice. They've seen industry and policy changes when new extremes are experienced—for instance, stronger building codes on the South Florida coast after Hurricane Andrew.

The said two factors, that humans can live in extreme conditions and that they have innate experience in managing their exposure to climate, establish confidence in their capacity to cope with the coming changes.

Related information about the future of Earth and the Sun is shown on Naked Science's YouTube video below:

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Check out more news and information on the Sun in Science Times.