What Will Happen in 22 Billion Years? A Glimpse into the Future

The Fate of the Earth and the Sun

When you think about 22 billion years, it's almost impossible to grasp just how far into the future that is. It’s beyond human history, beyond even the entire history of life on Earth. Yet, scientists have studied the cosmic clock to give us some idea of what might happen in that vast stretch of time. So, what can we expect in 22 billion years?

It’s a bit mind-blowing, right? But, as I was discussing this with my friend Sarah, she made an interesting point—"If we can understand where we're headed, maybe we can make more informed choices today." That hit me—if we know what's coming, even though it's millions of years away, we can at least appreciate the fragility of what we have now.

The Sun's Transformation: A Red Giant Phase

The Sun's Expansion

In around 5 billion years, the Sun will have burned through most of its hydrogen. This will cause it to expand into a red giant. But what does that mean for Earth 22 billion years down the line? Well, by then, the Sun will have long surpassed the red giant phase and could even have shed its outer layers, turning into a white dwarf. This process will make Earth uninhabitable long before that.

I remember watching a documentary on the life cycle of stars, and I was completely fascinated by the idea that our Sun, which seems so eternal to us, will one day burn out and shrink. It’s crazy to think about! In fact, 22 billion years from now, Earth will likely be a cold, barren rock, orbiting a tiny, dim white dwarf in place of our Sun.

Earth’s Final Days: A Frozen World?

As the Sun becomes a red giant, its increasing temperature will likely strip Earth of its atmosphere, and any liquid water will evaporate. So, if humans are around at that point (which, let’s be honest, seems unlikely), it would be a drastically different world.

Talking with my cousin Mark, who loves to speculate about the distant future, we both agreed that imagining humans living in such a time feels almost comical. The planet, as we know it, will be long gone—possibly consumed by the Sun’s expansion or rendered uninhabitable by its heat.

The Fate of the Universe: Will It Keep Expanding?

The Expanding Universe

The universe is expanding, and it’s accelerating. But will this expansion continue indefinitely? Or will it slow down and eventually reverse? There’s a theory called the Big Freeze, where the universe keeps expanding, and all the stars eventually burn out, leaving a cold, dark cosmos. In 22 billion years, we might be in the midst of this process.

I talked about this with my friend Alex, and we both found it a bit overwhelming to think about. The idea that, in the far future, the night sky might be completely empty—no stars, no galaxies, just an infinite stretch of cold, dark space—is terrifying in a strange way. But hey, it's not like we’ll be around to witness it!

The Big Rip: A More Drastic Scenario

Another theory, the Big Rip, suggests that if dark energy continues to accelerate the universe’s expansion, everything—planets, stars, galaxies, and even atoms—could eventually be torn apart. This might sound like a scene from a sci-fi movie, but the math behind it is real. While the Big Rip would take billions of years to unfold, it's a possibility that we can’t rule out.

In one of our late-night chats, my friend Tom pointed out that the Big Rip is “kind of the universe’s way of going out with a bang.” We both agreed, a little nervously, that if this theory is correct, it would be the ultimate end—everything would just get torn apart.

The Evolution of Life: A Highly Uncertain Future

Will Life on Earth End Before the Sun Does?

22 billion years is an unfathomable time span, so where does that leave life on Earth? Right now, we know that life is resilient, but it’s also highly dependent on the conditions we have today—temperatures, water, oxygen. As the Sun changes, those conditions will no longer be stable.

I was talking with Emily, a biology major, about whether life could survive under extreme conditions. She pointed out that while some organisms might adapt, like extremophiles (organisms that thrive in extreme environments), the kind of complex life we know today would not stand a chance in 22 billion years. In fact, we could be long gone long before the Sun reaches its red giant phase.

Will Humans Be Around?

The million-dollar question: Will humans still exist in 22 billion years? Our current trajectory suggests that, barring a significant breakthrough in longevity or interstellar travel, humanity will either evolve into something entirely different, or simply be extinct.

It’s an unsettling thought, isn’t it? We can barely predict what will happen in the next 100 years, so imagining humans existing in 22 billion years feels almost impossible. But that doesn’t stop some people from dreaming—space colonization might be our answer, or perhaps some kind of technology will allow us to transcend our biological limitations.

Conclusion: The Long-Term Future is Both Fascinating and Humbling

So, what will happen in 22 billion years? The answer is both humbling and mind-boggling. Our Sun will have long since turned into a white dwarf, Earth will be uninhabitable (or gone entirely), and the universe could either continue expanding or undergo a dramatic end.

As daunting as it is to think about, I find it kind of fascinating too. It’s a reminder of how temporary our existence is in the grand scheme of things. Whether we’re around to see it or not, the future of our planet and the universe is an incredible story unfolding over billions of years. And honestly, thinking about it—while a bit scary—also makes me appreciate the short time we have right now.

What do you think? Does thinking about the future in such a long time frame give you a sense of perspective, or does it feel too overwhelming? Either way, it’s a reminder to live in the moment—and maybe take better care of our planet while we’re here!

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.