How likely, considering all factors mathematically, scientifically, and otherwise, is the world to end?

Question

I am referring to the planet Earth and/or our universe. This is not a religious or paranormal question but a quite serious inquiry. If so, what is your date approximation?

Answer 1

The Earth will be engulfed by the Sun in about 5 billion years when the Sun becomes a red giant star. And that will be the end of it. There's also the possibility that it could get hit by a large asteroid and demolished before that, but we would hopefully see that coming in time to deflect it (if we are still around). So my bet is on the Sun.

The universe? We're not sure yet. Current density measurements indicate that the universe won't be heading for a 'big crunch' at the end, but keep expanding forever- which will eventually lead to the 'heat death' of the universe. But that is many more billions of years off. Many more than the Earth has to worry about.

EDIT: The Moon is actually moving AWAY from the Earth very slowly. It is not going to crash into the Earth.

The Sun is not going to explode. It would have to be about 20 times more massive than it is to be big enough to explode. It will simply puff off it's outer layers and die a quiet death as a white dwarf.

Answer 2

If you're talking about the Earth being destroyed or ceasing to exist, it's certain to happen, it's just a matter of when. It's likely, although, not certain that the Earth will be destroyed when the sun grows into a red giant star near the end of it's life. Since we don't have a perfect understanding of the universe, there are several other , however, very unlikely ways that the Earth could be destroyed at any moment, such as another small (unseen) star getting to close, or an approaching black hole. Remember though, that the Earth is actually quite difficult to destroy. It was hit by a Mars sized object long ago which created the moon, but the Earth survived. But it will eventually be destroyed as everything in the universe will eventually decay.

If you're talking about an end to human life or even all life, that is likely to happen much sooner assuming we don't spread to other planets and stars. If we stay here, the projections show that the sun will make the earth to hot for life in less than 1 billion years.

Which ever way you want to look at it, you are probably going to need a lot of patience if you're waiting around to witness the end of the world.

Answer 3

Given a long enough timeline everyone's odds of survival drop to zero. That being said, when most people speak of 'the world ending' really they are speaking of human life as we know it coming to an end. In evolutionary history, over 98% of all species that have ever existed have become extinct. Human's could go extinct and it would have zero effect on planet Earth. Happily, though, you're speaking specifically about the planet and/or universe.

In terms of prophecy (which is what you're asking for with a date approximation) there have been many, many, MANY prophecies about the end of the world and none of them have panned out. The reason being that there is no way to see the future. Psychics/mediums/seers/etc are all bunk. Using science is the best way to learn about what has happened in the universe and what will happen in the universe.

Eventually the sun will die violently. Luckily we don't have to worry about this happening for a long long time (In the order of 5 billion years or so). Some scientists think that if there was a big bang, then eventually the universe will stop expanding and then begin rebounding upon itself. Like an oscilation movement. Probably the biggest threat to the Earth itself would be coming into contact with a black hole. The incredable amount of gravity would compress Earth into a singularity.

These are things that we don't have to worry about for a very, very long time (if at all). I put in the source section a cool slide show about the 10 best ways to destroy the Earth (for any supervillians who may be reading). Enjoy!

Answer 4

1:1 chance of the world ending. The only question is when. I'm not knowledgeable about math/science/etc to give an answer, but it will be longer than 1 billion years for the earth, and somewhat longer for the universe. If the sun swallows the earth when it turns into a red giant in a few billion years, the earth will end then.

Answer 5

Nothing lasts forever. In a few billion years the Sun will expand to become a red giant star, totally frying Earth. But before that, in under one billion years, the very slow brightening of the Sun will heat up Earth enough to boil the oceans. Do not be fooled into thinking that this brightening is the cause of global warming though. It is predicted to be happening by stellar evolution models, but it is happening far too slowly to measure. It will take millions of years to cause even a 1 degree change in climate and many hundreds of millions of years to warm to the point of boiling the oceans.

Answer 6

100% chance that the Earth will end. When the sun explodes (in 5 billion years) whatever remains of the Earth will be obliterated. I also think that the Moon is supposed to crash into the Earth at some point - long before the Sun explodes.

Answer 7

100%, eventually.

Will mankind do it - probably not with war. Mankind will probably end on Earth due to pollution, overpopulation, and global warming.

The PLANET will end when the Sun enters red giant phase, enlarging out past the orbit of Earth, turning it into a cinder.

Answer 8

The earth will come to an end in 4 billion years when our sun comes to the end of its life. It will swell up to the orbit of the earth, incinerating the earth.

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Answer 9

I believe civilization will collapse first forcing us live like primitives again, then having an asteroid finish us off, and new species comes to be....like the dinosaurs. If not, we will evolve into a super species, with new powers not thought of now.

Answer 10

4-5 billion years when our sun burns it up while its in its death throws and becomes a red giant