NASA scientists and of University of Warwick have already agreed on the estimated date when the sun will explode, in a process that will culminate with its transformation into a white dwarf.
This life cycle, common to stars of this size, will bring with it a series of dramatic stages during which the Earth and the rest of the solar system will be profoundly affected, until we lose habitable conditions as we know them.
The process that will mark the end: How will the sun explode?
According to NASA, The explosion of the sun will take place in about 5 billion years. When the Sun consumes all the hydrogen in its core, it will begin a cycle of transformation that will lead it to expand and become a red giant.
This phase is decisive and will mark the start of your finalL. The depletion of hydrogen, which is the primary fuel for its nuclear reactions, will cause the Sun to begin fusing helium. As a result, the Sun will increase in size dramatically, radiating an extreme amount of energy.
During its expansion, the Sun will absorb the closest planets, like Mercury and VenusAnd The Earth will face extreme conditions of heat and radiation. This will cause the oceans to evaporate and the atmosphere to be lost, leaving the planet completely inhospitable to any type of life.
This transitory state of the red giant will not be permanent; Ultimately, the sun will collapsebeing reduced to a white dwarf. In this final state, the Sun will have lost most of its mass and will be unable to support life on the remaining planets in the solar system.
Will the sun explode or will it gradually disappear?
Unlike supernovae, which are catastrophic stellar explosions, The Sun’s death process will be slower and more predictable. Scientists have explained that the Sun will gradually go out. This leaves theoretical room for humanity to seek alternatives for survival.
However, experts also warn that long before the Sun collapses into a white dwarf, increasing solar brightness and climate change could make Earth uninhabitable in just 1 billion years.
So, as the Sun exhausts its resources, The radiation it emits will be so intense that it will profoundly affect the Earth’s atmosphere. Atmospheric erosion and ocean disappearance will endanger life as we know it today, accelerating the process of extinction.
For the experts, The future of humanity may depend on space exploration. In theory, Mars could become a more habitable place before the Sun reaches its final phase, provided that technological advances allow the establishment of self-sufficient human colonies on the Red Planet or in other solar systems.
Observations of dying stars: keys to the future of astronomy
Scientists have analyzed the behavior of other stars similar to the Sun that have already reached the end of their life cycle. These observations allow researchers to more accurately predict how and when the Sun will collapse, as well as the effects this will have on Earth and the solar system.
By observing the death of other stars, experts can detail the phases a star goes through as it consumes its hydrogen and fuses helium. These similar stars exhibit patterns that reflect what will happen to the Sun, providing a window into the future of humanity and the potential for survival in other star systems.
This knowledge encourages the idea of ​​developing alternative life on planets outside the solar system. Exoplanet exploration and space technology research are becoming increasingly urgent in the face of future challenges facing Earth.
Responsibility for an uncertain future for humanity
Even though the end of the Sun is billions of years away, The effects of its energy shift and human impact on the environment could make Earth uninhabitable much sooner than expected..
Faced with this scenario, scientists and environmental experts emphasize the need for responsible use of current natural resources to prolong habitability on Earth while exploring alternatives for possible space migration.
He climate changeaccelerated by human activities, can further deteriorate the atmosphere and the terrestrial biosphere. Experts emphasize the importance of reducing emissions and sustainably managing the planet’s natural resources.
Ultimately, the survival of humanity will depend not only on advances in space technology, but also on responsible decisions made today.
The possibility of colonize other planets or develop technology for living in hostile environments It depends on human capacity to preserve the current environment and prepare for future challenges.
