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Zaveyah Crowder | Feature | April
When people think of life, many probably think of plants, animals, or the things that bring them life, like family, friends, hobbies–but what happens when those cease to exist past your lifetime? What would that look like?
From the very beginning of Earth’s evolution, there have been many mass extinctions, resulting in temporary losses of life. Usually affecting about 75% each time it occurs. It’s said that Earth might already be underway with another mass extinction caused by humans rather than nature this time. In the case that humans don’t destroy Earth, there are four big ideas of how Earth would end. Only two will be briefly explained in this article.
What’s certain is that deoxygenation will inevitably happen in around 1 billion years. This is because solar activity would alter Earth’s oxygen and affect photosynthesis. This would then decrease carbon dioxide production, killing the oxygen-rich environment, and cause Earth to begin extreme overheating. While it is guaranteed that this will happen much later, it could also happen much sooner, like the Late Ordovician mass extinction which was mainly caused by the cooling of the Earth, changing the production of oxygen in the ocean, resulting in killing off nearly everything on Earth.
Similarly, what caused the Late Ordovician mass extinction was a gamma-ray burst, and scientists say that it could happen again. Gamma-rays are the result of explosions in the cosmos which could be related to powerful supernovae. If one were to occur in the Milky Way, it would be a short, 10-second
burst, but the result would be no less than devastating. This 10-second interaction could destroy about half of Earth’s ozone.
Keep in mind, the smallest amount of ozone deterioration could throw off its protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. If in the event that half of the ozone layer were to be destroyed, many food chains would be ruined, leading to the loss of many different species.
In knowing that the Earth is not a permanent feature of the solar system, nor is the galaxy in space. The big crunch is simply the inverse of the big bang. If unfamiliar with the big bang theory, the theory begins by explaining that all energy and matter were confined in a small group called a singularity and instantaneously expanded.
Most people assume that the Big Bang was an explosion in space, but it was rather an expansion of space. Not fully knowing what caused the singularity to expand, it did, and formed protogalaxies, from which galaxies matured. Eventually, different kinds of matter began to be pulled together, making the different planets known today.
Conversely, the big crunch theory would be all of that in reverse. The universe would eventually stop expanding due to all energy being evenly distributed. This halt to the expansion of the universe would cause everything to start moving backwards
because gravity would be so strong that all matter would collapse into itself, making another singularity. This idea also proposes that if there were a big crunch, there’s a possibility that there would be another big bang, giving rebirth to the galaxy once
more.
While theoretical scientists suggest that the universe could end in a collapse, others suggest the opposite. The credit for the universe’s rapid acceleration goes to dark energy. Information about dark energy is mostly unknown, but what scientists do know is that dark matter acts as an anti-gravity. Since gravity is responsible for pulling things together, like dropping a ball to the ground, dark energy causes the universe to expand every second. This creates the possibility that dark energy could double back on itself, causing the universe to be torn apart at the speed of light–this is the result of phantom energy.
With that being said, any two points would rip apart infinitely, leaving any configuration of the solar system not only inhabitable for any and all life,
but also dysfunctional and non-existent. Galaxies, solar systems, planets, matter, atoms, and nuclear bonds would, again, be pulled apart infinitely at the speed of light, unable to interact with each other, possibly, forever.
The world won’t last forever and humans will slip away long before, but that only serves as a reminder that nothing is promised or eternal. Despite the fear many have of the world ending, whether that be in war, collapse, or another environmental mass extinction, let it emphasize the importance of things that hold value during our time on earth. Spend time with the fruits of life like family, friends, and hobbies even if it ceases to exist past your lifetime.
About The Writer: Zaveyah Crowder, Reporter
About The Writer: Zaveyah Crowder, Reporter
Zaveyah Crowder is a new reporter of The 2025-2026 Courier staff and she enjoys writing creatively, giving coverage on important topics, and expressing herself through her different interests, including games, art, music, and sports. She hopes to spread awareness and build connections through The Courier to close out her junior year.
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