Mass extinction: New ‘supercontinent’ could wipe out humans and all mammals, study predicts

A new study by the University of Bristol has said that the formation of a new supercontinent, called Pangea Ultima, could wipe out humans and make Earth uninhabitable in about 250 million years.
As per the study, the primary driver behind the impending mass extinction would stem from heightened heat stress.
The study used supercomputer climate models to simulate the future conditions of the planet when all the continents merge into one. The researchers found that the supercontinent would be extremely hot, dry and hostile for mammals, who are not adapted to cope with prolonged exposure to excessive heat.
The study also predicted that the sun would become brighter, emitting more energy and warming the Earth further, and that volcanic eruptions would release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, intensifying global warming. The study warned that widespread temperatures of 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, coupled with high humidity, would be fatal for many species, including humans.
The study estimated that only around 8% to 16% of land on the supercontinent would be habitable for mammals. The study emphasised the importance of addressing the current climate crisis caused by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
The report has emphasised the importance of addressing the current climate crisis caused by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. The study said that if humans do not take action to reduce their carbon footprint and limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, as agreed in the Paris Agreement, they could face similar conditions to those predicted for Pangea Ultima much sooner than expected.
According to a CNN report, Eunice Lo, a co-author of the report said: “It is vitally important not to lose sight of our current climate crisis, which is a result of human emissions of greenhouse gases”.
The study suggested that humans should explore other planets or find ways to adapt to extreme environments if they want to survive in the long term .
There have been five major mass extinctions in Earth’s history, each of which wiped out a significant percentage of the planet’s species. The most recent mass extinction was the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event, which occurred 66 million years ago and led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.