What will happen to humankind in 5 billion years when the Sun starts dying (if we're even around then)?

Question

In about 4-5 billion years, the Sun will run out of hydrogen fuel and will start expanding and turning into a Red Giant. Temperatures on Earth will reach thousands of degrees, the sunlight will become blindingly bright, our oceans and atmosphere will evaporate, we might get swallowed up by this Red Giant... pretty much, if we stay on Earth, we're doomed. Do you think humankind will be around to see that happen? If so, what do you think we will do about it?

Ahhh, so depressing...

Answer 1

I hope that in 5 billion years. We have somewhat evolved beyond this planet. Besides we won't have enough land or fossil fuels to last the next five hundred. I can hardly imagine five billion years from now.

Answer 2

Astronomers have discoveredthe firstknown planettosurvive the "red-giant" phase - a process whereby aging starsexpandandengulfits orbiting bodies.The discovery of the "gas-giantplanet"three timesthe size of Jupiter, shows an insight into the future ofour ownsolarsystem. What willhappentothe Earthwhenthe sun grows old andcollapses? The planet is some 4,500 light-years from Earth. It once orbited its star at the same distance as the Earthis now from the sunabouteightlight-minutes,but then subsequently drifted away. Scientists have identified around 250 planets orbiting starsotherthan our sun. Most are detected by indirect measurements such as tiny variations inthe "wobble" of a star. The teamfound that duringits time as a middle-agedstar,V 391Pegasihada mass similar to the sunbefore itexpanded its radius bymorethan 100times when it swelled into a red-giant- something the sunis expected todoin5 billion years. The researchers said the planet stayed intact because the parent star lostmass, reducing its gravitational pulljust enoughtoletthe planetdriftawaya bit. Scientists claim that our veryown star - the Sun is around 30 percent bigger already than whenitfirstcame intobeing. As itgraduallyexhausts allits hydrogen, the star'sdimensions willcontinue toswell. Astronomers predict that the processes happening onV 391Pegasi will be replicated by the Earth in5 billion years time. The actual"earth" ironically may survive.

Answer 3

Yeah, we're pretty buggered if we're still on the planet. We'll probably either a.) blow ourselves up long before then or b.) evolve into something that doesn't care anyway like another form of deer.

However, I love the Doctor Who episode where they go so far into the future they crash the party people have thrown to witness the sun turning into a Red Giant. If we make it that far, I think we would let it happen. Everything has a time to die, even planet Earth. Then a bottle of campaigne on the observation deck, a few songs to the now defunct terra firma and it's off to explore again.

Answer 4

Taking into consideration most of the earths resources, at our rate of expansion, will be used up entirely by about 3000-4000 AD...we have absolutely nothing to worry about 5 billion years from now if we're still around ;)

Hell, a lot of our resources are going to be in crisis by 2100-2200.

Technology is going to have to radically change in order for life to continue on earth past 3000 AD. If anything, we'd better hope interstellar travel is possible soon, and that we come up with radical new ways of generating energy.

If not, we'll be gone long long before that sun destroys the earth...


So there's really only 3 scenarios here.

1. We fail to make the technological leap and in around 1000 years the human race completely collapses under it's weight and our reign is over.
2. We make the technological leap. We don't have to worry about the sun destroying us; we now populate various stars around the galaxy, and eventually in various galaxies.
3. The human race again collapses, but is not wiped out per say; evolution continues and a more primative form of humans emerge and life on earth is changed dramatically.

Answer 5

One person stated that the sun grows as it ages. This is correct. Last time I took an Astrology course, it was predicted that the Sun would grow in size from its current to reach past Earth's Orbit. Thus vaporizing Mercury, Venus and Earth. But like you said, a Red Giant will swallow Earth up. But do not fear. Death is the only true adventure....

Answer 6

Our sun has a "green zone" or "life zone". A distance where it is not too hot or not too cold for life. The earth exits in this green zone. Because the sun is slowly changing, this zone is slowly moving. Long before the sun runs out of fuel, this green zone will pass the earth and the earth will no longer be able to support life. Also, one of our neighbor galaxies, Andromeda, is falling toward us and will collide with us in about 3 billion years. That could be catastrophic for the earth. So, I wouldn't sweat the sun running out of fuel :)

Answer 7

The earth will explode. But the imporant thing is, we'll be living on the sun. From experiance, our bodies will evolve to endure such heat and extreme temperatures without any external aides. Although, being exposed to temperatures as hot and extreme as the sun is out of the question. We'd literally burn up before even reaching it.

Answer 8

Considering the "advances" in technology humankind has made in the past 100 years, I am confident we have no need to worry about the next 5 billion years. Hmmmm....Why are we here, anyway?

Answer 9

The sun grows slowly every day as it burns its fuel. Currently our sun is relatively young. Our planet is currently just the right distance away to be in this, "comfort zone" not too hot and not too cold but just right for us and our current life as we know it. As the sun grows this comfort zone moves out towards the planet mars. Eventually life will be impossible for humans as our sun slowly bakes our planet, well before it even gets close to running out of fuel. If humans wish to remain a living species indefinitely it must become a space faring nomadic society or it is doomed to extinction from our own sun. This fact is undeniable, and will happen as I said long before the sun ever gets close to running out of fuel.....Kind of gives you a new perspective on things as they currently are huh, like greenhouse emissions etc. Its slowly baking on its own we just need enough time to figure out how to get off this death trap before its too late. LOL

Answer 10

I think you answered your own question - we're doomed if we stick around here. Imagine, "true" man has only been around for about 600,000 years. It's beyond comprehension what will be here on earth, if earth is still here, in 5 billion years.

Try not to lose any sleep over this!