A study recently published in Scientific Reports has suggested a potential danger to humanity that could render much of the planet Earth uninhabitable. The study claims that by 2050, a potential new supercontinent could rise and form from shifting tectonic plates. The move would be catastrophic, because the new supercontinent could trigger significant volcanic activity and global famine. This combination of destruction could put humanity in peril and cause the end of life as we know it.
The cause of these changes to the Earth’s tectonic plates is up for debate. It could be human-induced, due to our carelessness with nature and its blessings. Alternatively, the shift could be caused by nature itself—natural disasters from time to time can cause landmasses to relocate and combine to form larger landmasses. The study’s authors note that regardless of the root cause of these shifting tectonic plates, the most drastic consequence of their movement would be the formation of the new supercontinent.
If this catastrophic event does occur, its implications would likely be vast and deadly. The space created between the continents by the new supercontinent would become an ocean. This would cause global temperatures to raise significantly, faster than they ever have before, making the climate uninhabitable for some species and too hot for agriculture to be successful. The supercontinent itself, made up of large mountains and extinct volcanoes, will also be inhospitable to human life. Additionally, extreme cloudcover could decrease incoming sunlight. Scientists warn that the combination of these environmental catastrophes could render earth uninhabitable.
The scientific community still has a lot to learn about the potential formation of a new supercontinent in the next several decades and its potentially fatal consequences. But, the authors suggest, we should err on the side of caution and take proactive steps to reduce or mitigate the formation of a new supercontinent and the damage it would cause. It could be as simple as drastically reducing our carbon emissions, or something like limiting the destruction of natural habitats.
Although this new supercontinent remains just a theory at this point, the importance of taking action cannot be overstated. We must act with haste to mitigate or prevent the devastating consequences of this global catastrophe.
