Can humans survive doomsday?

• Scientists predict ‘man’ will not be able to live on Earth in 500m years
• Global warming could turn Middle East, Northern Africa into ‘dead zones’, force 500m people to relocate

Scientists believe in roughly 500 million years, humans will no longer live on the surface of Earth; conditions will eventually become so harsh that not even cockroaches will be able to survive.

But, they say there may still be some hope for Earth’s inhabitants.

Columbia University, United States (U.S.), astrophysicists Michael Hahn and Daniel Wolf Savin explain how life on Earth will slowly begin to decline in an essay entitled ‘How to Survive Doomsday’ published in Nautilus.

Researchers have suggested a number of methods to stave off the impending doomsday, from altering Earth’s orbit by launching an asteroid, to uploading our consciousness into machines.

As the sun grows brighter at a rate of roughly 10 percent every billion years, Earth will respond by decreasing its own ‘warming blanket’ of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

With less carbon dioxide, the plants eventually all die out, and oxygen will not be replenished.

Over time, the temperature of the Earth will dramatically raise as well.

Large animals will be the first to die off, they explain, and after roughly 1.5 billion years, even the poles will be too hot to sustain non-microbial life.

This all comes well before the planet is predicted to be ‘melt’ six billion years from now, when the sun swells to become a red giant.

If Earth avoids a life-ending event – like self-inflicted nuclear apocalypse or an extinction sized asteroid – the scientists say humans have less than 500 million years left on the planet.

This comes well before the planet is predicted to be ‘melt’ 6 billion years from now, when the sun swells to become a red giant.

The predictions seem grim, but the researchers say there are a few ways humans can potentially save the fate of our planet.

One such idea is to physically move the orbit of Earth.

Meanwhile, a new study has warned that rising global temperatures could render large swathes of the Middle East and North Africa too hot for humans.

Experts say the future of humanity is these areas is ‘in jeopardy’ and say it could affect up to 500 million people.

Researchers found the number of extremely hot days in the region has doubled since 1970.

By mid-century, during the warmest periods, temperatures will not fall below 30 degrees at night, and during daytime they could rise to 46 degrees Celsius (approximately 114 degrees Fahrenheit).

By mid-century, during the warmest periods, temperatures will not fall below 30 degrees at night, and during daytime they could rise to 46 degrees Celsius (approximately 114 degrees Fahrenheit).

By the end of the century, midday temperatures on hot days could even climb to 50 degrees Celsius (approximately 122 degrees Fahrenheit).

Another finding: Heat waves could occur ten times more often than they do now: By mid-century, 80 instead of 16 extremely hot days.

‘Apocalypse’ report warns of deadly threats to Earth

According to the Global Catastrophic Risks 2016 report, the biggest threats humanity should prepare for are climate change-related catastrophes, natural pandemics and nuclear war.

These were all listed as high priority and had the highest likelihood of occurring in the next five years.

However, other threats to look out for include pandemics from man-made pathogens, failure of geo-engineering projects, and catastrophic disruption from artificial intelligence.

In terms of mitigating risks, the report draws comparisons with fatal car accidents, where governments have mandated basic safety features, such as seatbelts and air bags.

It states that while the risk of human extinction is small, at 0.1 per cent each year, it means that a person is five times more likely to die in an extinction event than a car crash.

Catastrophic climate change poses such a high risk due to the cumulative effects of rising carbon dioxide levels, feedback loops in the carbon cycle, and lack of action and financial investment.

The report states of the need for the international community to take strong action to avoid the upper limits of global temperature change, which could have devastating impacts on food security and human life.

Director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and Professor at the Cyprus Institute, Jos Lelieveld, said: “In future, the climate in large parts of the Middle East and North Africa could change in such a manner that the very existence of its inhabitants is in jeopardy.”