Future of Earth’s Atmosphere
A new NASA-funded study shows Earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere won’t last forever. Using advanced simulations, scientists from NASA and Toho University predict that rising solar radiation will make Earth’s atmosphere unfit for complex life within the next billion years.

Oxygen Loss Over Time
As the Sun gets brighter, carbon dioxide levels will drop, making it hard for plants to survive. This will cause a sharp fall in oxygen. “Atmospheric oxygen levels could fall to less than 10% of today’s concentrations,” say researchers Kazumi Ozaki and Christopher Reinhard.

A Return to Early Earth Conditions
The resulting atmosphere would be rich in methane, low in CO₂, and missing an ozone layer—similar to early Earth before oxygen became abundant.

Implications Beyond Earth
Though the shift may start in 10,000 years, it unfolds over millions. Scientists say this helps us understand “the temporary nature of oxygen-rich environments” and could guide the search for life on other planets.