What could happen if Earth runs out of oxygen?

The beginning

There was no oxygen when Earth was formed. But there was no life either. The atmosphere back then was composed of several gases, including methane and ammonia.

The Oxygen Catastrophe

So essentially, this bacterium depended on the Sun to produce oxygen. Despite the oxygenation event, our Sun brought Earth to life…and will eventually destroy it.

The Sun

The Sun is becoming brighter as time goes by. It is estimated that since it first ignited, around 4.5 billion years ago, the giant star has become around 30% brighter over the years.

The first elements to be affected

The increase of the Sun’s brightness will end life on Earth, and oxygen will stop being produced. But the first thing to be affected will not be plants, but rocks.

When less CO2 becomes a problem

This disruption in the cycle means that plants will have less CO2 to convert into oxygen. Yes, too much CO2 can lead to global warming, but too little of it will affect photosynthesis and the production of oxygen on Earth.

The end of forests

Excess light means that plants will die and our planet won't be able to sustain forests. This will eventually turn Earth into a desert planet.

Oceans

Photosynthesis is not just a process that will cease to exist in plants; it will also affect our oceans. Though this process will take longer than it does on land.

Water vapor

All water will eventually slowly evaporate. And can you guess where all the evaporated water will go? Outer space. Just like oxygen does every day, according to NASA.

Could plants adapt?

But some plants might even go further, by becoming carnivorous or getting nutrients from fungi in the soil.

Will humans be affected?

It is very unlikely that humans will still be around when the Sun starts to seriously deteriorate life on Earth.

Finding a new home

But let's say we do survive until then. We can always hope that before we all start slowly suffocating on Earth, we find a way to travel to other planets!

Saving Earth

Excessive levels of CO2 have proven that humans are capable of manipulating the atmosphere. If the lack of CO2 will become a problem in the future, perhaps we can counter the effects of the Sun. After all, for better or worse, we’re pretty good at increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere!

Moving Earth

For this to happen, a smaller object would have to repeatedly tug at our planet using gravity. This would make Earth’s orbit gradually shift. The timescale for such an astronomical project? About a billion years.

Move to Mars

Though it will still be pretty cold around the time this happens. Like, Earth’s last ice age levels of cold. But still, we would be able to survive there.