Connect with us

Science

Earth’s Oxygen-Rich Atmosphere Will Last Only Another Billion Years – Forbes

Considering geological and biological processes and the activity of the Sun, Earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere will last only another billion years.

Published

on

Artwork of a possible future Earth.
getty
Life is thriving on planet Earth thanks to oxygen. Oxygen is a highly reactive element; it can form compounds with nearly every other element on the periodic table, releasing energy in the process. In a process known as cellular respiration, organisms use oxygen to oxidize substrates (for example sugars and fats) and generate energy.
The Earth formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago. Intense volcanic activity released gases that formed a toxic atmosphere,…

Click here to view the original article.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending