According to a new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience, mammals may have only 250 million years left before they face extinction due to a triple threat of a brighter sun, changes in continental geography, and increases in carbon dioxide. The research team built a virtual simulation of the future world using data on continental movement and atmospheric changes. The study predicts that a new supercontinent called Pangea Ultima will form along the equator in 250 million years, resulting in dangerously high temperatures on land. While some mammals may survive in refuges on the fringes of Pangea Ultima, overall, mammals will likely lose their dominance and be replaced by reptiles that can tolerate the heat. The study did not account for the gradual decline in heat escaping from Earth’s interior, which could potentially prolong the survival of mammals. The research could also help scientists identify potential habitable planets in other solar systems.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/25/science/future-earth-warming-mammal-extinction.html