If the sun suddenly vanished, would humans be able to survive?

The scenario of the sun suddenly disappearing is a thought-provoking one that raises questions about the survival of life on Earth. Imagine waking up to a dark and panic-stricken world with no sunlight, only to realize eight and a half minutes later that the sun had disappeared. This is the time it takes sunlight to reach our planet, and it shows just how dependent we are on this giant star.

The sun is the primary source of energy for our planet and the entire solar system. All celestial bodies in our star system orbit around the sun in elliptical paths, with the sun maintaining balance and providing gravity that counteracts the centrifugal force that moves planets away. With the sun’s disappearance, the planets would continue their forward motion and leave the solar system’s borders.

Earth, which revolves around the sun at an astounding 67,000 miles per hour, would immediately shoot out of its orbit and keep its speed, and the same fate would befall all other planets. This trajectory would last for hundreds of years, leaving the fate of the celestial bodies in question.

The first impact of the sun’s disappearance would be felt by animals, who would become agitated by the sudden darkness that would come much earlier than usual. Birds would settle down while the absence of natural light, including moonlight, would be felt across the planet. Photosynthesis, which enables plant growth, requires sunlight, so with the sun’s disappearance, vegetation would stop growing, and herbivore animals would have no food to sustain themselves.

The temperature on Earth would start to fall gradually, with the planet’s hot core, covered with a mantle of molten rock, filtering warmth through the planet’s crust. However, this warmth would not last forever, and people would soon start using wood and coal to survive the cold. Without plants, there would be no oxygen production, which is essential to human survival, and the seas and oceans would freeze, and their inhabitants would perish, making life on the frozen planet even more challenging.

The atmosphere would collapse, making Earth vulnerable to radiation waves roaming through space and creating an inhospitable environment for most living organisms. Those living beneath the surface would most likely survive since they would be warmed up by the weak heat coming from the Earth’s core.

If Earth hurtled away into space, it could collide with another planet, get hit by an asteroid, or even get pulled into a black hole. Alternatively, it could travel for thousands of years until it found another star to orbit.

While the scenario of the sun disappearing is highly unlikely, it is fascinating to explore other hypothetical scenarios such as putting the sun out. Pouring all of Earth’s water, which is equivalent to 70 quintillion buckets, would do nothing to the Sun since water is literal fuel for the star. The sun is held together by its massive gravitational force, and the extra mass added by water would make it even stronger, leading it to eat up any nearby planets. So, in the end, the pouring of water on the sun would only be a futile experiment.

The Earth’s position in the solar system, which is neither too close nor too far from the sun, is what makes life on it tolerable and pleasant. If Earth shifted closer or farther away from the sun, there would be a corresponding change in temperatures, leading to dire consequences.

If the planet shifted hundreds of millions of miles farther away from the sun, temperatures would fall gradually, and ice and snow would become prevalent. Plants would stop growing, rivers would run dry, and aquatic life would perish, leaving Earth a frozen wasteland. Similarly, if Earth shifted closer to the sun, temperatures would skyrocket, making life unbearable for most organisms. Plants would wilt, and the earth would become barren, unable to support life.

Lastly, the hypothetical scenario of the sun’s disappearance is a fascinating one to explore. It shows how dependent we are on the sun, which provides energy to the entire solar system, and how a change in its position can impact life on earth significantly. While the probability of the sun’s disappearance is low, it’s still essential to understand the potential ramifications of such an event. Ultimately, the sun’s presence and position in the solar system are vital to ensuring the continued survival of life on Earth.