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.
Artwork of a possible future Earth.
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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,…
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