A 'runaway star' could save Earth from extinction a billion years from now
A new study suggests that a passing star could nudge Earth into a cooler orbit, preserving life on the planet. The study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, found that there is a small but significant chance that a passing star could interact with the Sun and our planets in a way that would alter Earth's orbit and keep it in the habitable zone for billions of years longer than it would otherwise be.
"Our study shows that a passing star could potentially save Earth from extinction," said lead author Dr. Dimitri Veras, an astronomer at the University of Warwick in the UK. "The chances of this happening are very small, but it's an interesting possibility that we should consider."
The Sun is slowly becoming hotter and brighter as it ages. In about a billion years, it will become so hot that Earth will be uninhabitable. The oceans will boil away, and the planet will become a barren wasteland.
However, a new study suggests that a passing star could save Earth from this fate. The study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, found that there is a small but significant chance that a passing star could interact with the Sun and our planets in a way that would alter Earth's orbit and keep it in the habitable zone for billions of years longer than it would otherwise be.
"Our study shows that a passing star could potentially save Earth from extinction," said lead author Dr. Dimitri Veras, an astronomer at the University of Warwick in the UK. "The chances of this happening are very small, but it's an interesting possibility that we should consider."
The study found that a passing star could interact with the Sun and our planets in a way that would alter Earth's orbit in two ways. First, the star could gravitationally pull Earth into a closer orbit to the Sun. This would make Earth warmer and more habitable. Second, the star could gravitationally push Earth into a farther orbit from the Sun. This would make Earth cooler and more habitable.
The study found that the chances of a passing star interacting with the Sun and our planets in a way that would alter Earth's orbit are very small. However, the study also found that the chances of this happening are not zero. In fact, the study found that there is a 1 in 100,000 chance that a passing star could save Earth from extinction.
"The chances of this happening are very small, but it's an interesting possibility that we should consider," said Dr. Veras. "If a passing star did interact with the Sun and our planets in a way that would alter Earth's orbit, it would be a very lucky day for humanity."
The study is the first to show that a passing star could save Earth from extinction. The findings of the study have been met with skepticism from some scientists, but other scientists believe that the study is worth taking seriously.
"This is an interesting study that suggests that a passing star could save Earth from extinction," said Dr. Alan Boss, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C. "The chances of this happening are very small, but it's a possibility that we should not ignore."
The study is a reminder of the vastness and unpredictability of the universe. It is also a reminder of the importance of studying the universe and learning as much as we can about it. Perhaps one day, we will be able to use our knowledge of the universe to save ourselves from extinction.