Earth Faces Potential Future Oxygen Decline, Study Reveals

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According to research conducted by scientists including Kazumi Ozaki from Toho University, Earth's atmosphere may revert to a low-oxygen state reminiscent of its condition before the Great Oxidation Event, which occurred roughly 2.4 billion years ago. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, suggests that this shift could occur in a billion years, triggered by a decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide and increasing solar radiation.

The model indicates that oxygen levels could plummet to around one-millionth of current levels, severely impacting aerobic life. Chris Reinhard, an earth scientist from Georgia Institute of Technology, warned that this dramatic reduction will likely precede the loss of surface water due to climate changes.

The implications of such a transformation extend beyond Earth, as the findings could influence how scientists search for life on other planets. It suggests the need to consider biosignatures other than oxygen when assessing planetary habitability. This research was part of NASA's NExSS project focusing on planetary life viability.

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