By Shreya Srivastava
Introduction
We’ve all experienced that moment in science class where we first learned that the Sun is going to explode in 10 billion years, and proceeded to have a meltdown about it. Although that issue has now waned to the back of our minds, there are still countless other ways the world can end much sooner than predicted.
Astoningishly, however, a lot of research has not been conducted on the list of possibilities that could end our time on Earth. In fact, Anders Samberg, a catastrophe researcher at the University of Oxford, claimed more research articles are available on dung beetle reproduction than human extinction (Julia Rosen, 2016). Regardless, the research we do have points us in the direction of endless uncontrollable hazards that could annihilate humanity.
What if there is a Solar Storm?
Although we have a lot to thank the Sun for– it provides adamant radiant heat that nourishes life on planet Earth. However, as much as the radiation helps us, it could also hurt us. A solar storm is when the Sun emits giant bursts of energy in the form of solar flares and coronal mass ejections–a large cloud of energetic and highly magnetized plasma (Hauptman, 2021). Visually noticeable as the dark splotches on the surface of the Sun (also known as sunspots), a solar flare is when the magnetic lines on the Sun turn taut and twisted, thus causing gigantic electromagnetic energy storms.
Although Earth’s magnetic field and insulating atmosphere protects us from vigorous solar flares, we are still constantly under the risk of the sheer electromagnetic power from a flare causing a worldwide blackout (Brandon Specktor, 2022). Out of hand, a solar flare can single-handedly be responsible for the breakdown of power grids, internet connections and mobile phones. A day without my phone and WiFi? That really does seem like the end of the world. Luckily for us, we can sleep soundly at night knowing that scientists all over the world are constantly monitoring the Sun’s activity and should be able to detect any detrimental solar storms, should there be one, a day in advance (Dunning, 2022).
What if the Sun exploded tomorrow?
To be completely safe from a supernova, a solar explosion, we would need to be at least 50 to 100 million light years away. However, if the Sun were to explode, only the portion of Earth facing it would immediately boil out of existence. The remaining portion of Earth would go pitch black and experience a rise in temperature of 15 times hotter than the Sun’s surface (Zelvis, 2022). Additionally, without the gravitational pull of the Sun keeping us in orbit, we would likely drift off into space. Essentially, there is absolutely no chance of survival of humanity if the Sun were to unexpectedly explode tomorrow.
Even if we were to gain the security of another star, by the time that would happen, we would be long gone. However, if we knew a day in advance of the Sun’s explosion, we could add a thousand years to the existence of humans because we could potentially prepare for it by moving underground (Peter, 2019). But, after a thousand years, the cosmic radiation and meteor impacts would have caused too much damage to sustain life (Peter, 2019). In summary, you should hope the Sun doesn’t explode tomorrow.
What if the Earth stopped rotating?
Although unlikely because of the amount of energy it would require, if the Earth were to stop rotating, humanity would most probably
not survive because of the amount of natural disasters it would cause. The Earth’s core travels at approximately 1000 miles an hour, so if it were to suddenly halt, everything would fly eastward (Diamond, 2018). Not just the things stored in your room, but rocks and mountains and oceans. All of this movement would likely cause tremendous damage in the form of powerful tsunamis and earthquakes. High speed winds would scour the landscape completely clean.
Furthermore, if the halt in rotation were to be more gradual and subtle, the effects would still be detrimental. Our day would last much longer than 24 hours (perhaps one day would last a year), so our biological circadian rhythms would be severely disrupted. Therefore, our normal biological processes and routines could be completely upended (Scharping, 2021). Not only do organisms rely on Earth’s rotation, but the atmosphere does as well. Changes in temperatures and wind currents would affect the natural climate of lots of landscapes. Perhaps frozen tundras might become habitable and wet landscapes would turn arid, thus disrupting the habitat of countless animal species, including humans (Scharping, 2021). On the positive side, we could look forward to some very, very long sunsets (but at what cost?).
Conclusion
None of these situations seems ideal for humans to experience, but the chances of any of them happening are almost slim to none, so don’t let this article steal your sleep at night. Instead, focus on appreciating Earth’s natural, ever-changing beauty a bit more. Maybe colors will begin to look brighter and the air will feel fresher. Relish in the pure beauty of our solar system and the magnificent, overbearing power it holds over the fate of humanity.
References
Brandon Specktor. (2022, August 25). Could a solar storm ever destroy Earth? Livescience.com. https://www.livescience.com/solar-storm-destroy-earth
Diamond, A. (2018, August). What Would Happen if the Earth Stopped Rotating? and More Questions From our Readers. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-happen-earth-stopped-rotating-180970312/
Dunning, H. (2022, May 18). Solar storms can be predicted a day in advance, shows mission to the Sun | Imperial News | Imperial College London. Imperial News. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/236539/solar-storms-predicted-advance-shows-mission/
Hauptman, M. (2021, July 20). False warnings about solar storms have gone viral. Here’s what the flares actually do to Earth. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2021/07/19/solar-storms-explainer/
Julia Rosen. (2016, July 14). Here’s how the world could end—and what we can do about it. Www.science.org. https://www.science.org/content/article/here-s-how-world-could-end-and-what-we-can-do-about-it
Peter. (2019, December 24). What If the Sun Exploded Tomorrow? What If Show. https://whatifshow.com/what-if-the-sun-exploded-tomorrow/
Scharping, N. (2021, April 15). What would happen if Earth stopped spinning? Astronomy.com. https://astronomy.com/news/2021/04/what-would-happen-if-the-earth-stopped-spinning
Zelvis, N. (2022, January 5). What Would Happen If The Sun Exploded? Https://Nightskypix.com/. https://nightskypix.com/what-would-happen-if-the-sun-exploded/
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