只要沒有末日災難發生，地球將會維持適合居住的狀態17.5億年，根據一項新研究指出。
儘管面臨了全球暖化、大氣層中的二氧化碳增加，還有快速耗竭的天然資源等威脅，研究人員一直很積極想知道地球適合居住的時間還有多久。檢視了地球與太陽間的距離、以及地球能夠持續保有液態水的溫度後，估計地球還能再維持生命17.5億年，前提是如果沒有核爆大滅絕、行星撞地球或是其他災難的干涉。
然而，由於宇宙天體的力量，地球終將變成不適合居住之地。預期地球將會離開太陽系的可居住區，並於17.5億年後到32.5億年之間進入「熱區」。這意味著氣溫將會變得極高，以致於地球上的海洋都會蒸發。
幸好當地球變得過熱，讓生命無法活存時，火星將會進入可居住的區域。領銜研究人員安德魯路斯比說：「如果我們必須遷至另一個星球，火星大概是我們最有可能成功的選擇。」
(Technology) Earth to Be Habitable for Another 1.75 Billion Years
As long as there are no doomsday disasters, Earth will remain habitable for another 1.75 billion years, according to a new study.
In the face of global warming, rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and fast depletion of natural resources, researchers have been keen to find out the habitable lifetime of Earth. After looking at the planets distance from the sun and temperatures at which it can continue to have liquid water, it was estimated that Earth would be able to host life for another 1.75 billion years on the condition that a nuclear holocaust, an errant asteroid or some other disaster does not intervene.
Nonetheless, the planet will eventually be rendered uninhabitable due to astronomical forces. It is expected that Earth will leave the solar systems habitable zone and travel into the hot zone sometime between 1.75 and 3.25 billion years from now. This means the temperatures will be so high that all water on Earth in the form of seas and oceans will evaporate.
Fortunately, Mars will be entering the habitable zone just as Earth becomes too hot for life. If we ever needed to move to another planet, Mars is probably our best bet, said lead researcher Andrew Rushby.
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