Earth might get a cosmic reprieve, useful context for a colleague or friend following planetary science.
Sun may spare Earth and Mars Story flow and key facts
For decades, scientists believed Earth would be consumed by the Sun as it expands into a red giant. A new study published in Astronomy & Astrophysics challenges that view, suggesting Earth and Mars might actually survive. The outcome depends on a balance between two forces: tidal interactions pulling Earth inward and mass loss from solar winds pushing Earth outward. If mass loss dominates, Earth could be pushed into a wider orbit, escaping destruction. The research draws on observations of L2 Puppis, a star similar to the Sun in its later stages. While Earth may avoid being swallowed, it won’t remain habitable—surface temperatures will rise drastically in 1–2 billion years, boiling away oceans long before the Sun’s final expansion.
Facts
- A new study in Astronomy & Astrophysics suggests Earth may avoid being swallowed by the Sun.
- Earth’s fate depends on whether solar mass loss or tidal forces dominate in the Sun’s red giant phase.
- L2 Puppis, a star similar to the Sun’s future state, was used to model the Sun’s mass loss.
- Mercury and Venus are still expected to be engulfed, but Earth and Mars might escape.
- The Sun has at least 5 billion years of life left; Earth will become uninhabitable in 1–2 billion years due to rising temperatures.
Canto visual news explainer. AI tools may assist production. Editorial policy
