How long can plants survive on Earth? New model suggests up to 2 billion more years

Vegetarians need not worry yet—plants will be on Earth for a long time to come.

But not forever.

The sun will ultimately determine the long-term existence of life on Earth.

Its total energy output, called luminosity, has been increasing over epochs and eons by about 10% every billion years—determining much of Earth's surface temperature.

This will continue for billions of years in the future. ...