Chapter 1: The Sudden Absence of Our Star

What if, in an instant, the Sun were to vanish completely? Picture it as if you're watching a science fiction film where the Sun disappears without warning, leaving no trace of its existence.

This unprecedented event would have dire consequences for Earth and its inhabitants. Thanks to modern scientific understanding, we can make some predictions about this scenario. If the Sun were to suddenly go dark, we wouldn’t notice it for approximately eight minutes. This is due to the light from the Sun taking about 499 seconds to reach our planet. After those eight minutes, daylight would abruptly cease—no gradual dimming, just darkness, as if a switch had been flipped.

Alongside the loss of light, the gravitational pull of the Sun would also vanish instantly. As a result, Earth would drift away into the cosmos, propelled by its current velocity of roughly 107,200 km/h. It wouldn’t shatter or spiral off but continue in a straight line through the vastness of space. The distances between planets in the Milky Way are so immense that they can be likened to peas scattered across a football field; thus, the likelihood of colliding with another celestial body is extremely slim. Other planets would also be cast adrift, losing their solar tether.

However, we wouldn’t be able to witness this cosmic dance; planets and moons do not emit their own light but reflect sunlight. Consequently, we would stop seeing Jupiter in about an hour and the Moon in less than ten minutes. The idea of traveling to a different star for warmth is also impractical—Alpha Centauri, the closest star similar to our Sun, would take around 43,000 years to reach at Earth's current speed. In reality, the gravitational forces of our galaxy would likely keep us bound to our fate, lost within the Milky Way.

What would life on Earth look like in this scenario?

The immediate result would be an unending darkness, with only the stars visible in the pitch-black sky. Photosynthesis would come to a halt, leading to the rapid extinction of smaller plants within days. Larger vegetation like trees and mushrooms might endure a bit longer thanks to stored nutrients, with some scientists suggesting they could survive for decades without sunlight.

As temperatures drop, the global surface temperature would plummet to around zero within a week, and within a year, it could stabilize at a chilling -100°C. The Earth’s core would continue to radiate heat for some time, but eventually, the planet would cool down to a frigid -240 °C over millions of years—a true "cosmic freezer." Surface life would vanish rapidly, though some forms of life could persist in the depths of the oceans. Ice sheets several kilometers thick would form on the surface, yet liquid water might remain beneath.

Fish are unlikely to survive due to diminished oxygen and nutrients. However, deep-sea organisms, accustomed to extreme conditions, might endure a little longer. Microorganisms like algae and bacteria, which thrive in harsh environments, could also persist. Ultimately, after millions of years, even these resilient forms of life would face extinction as the oceans freeze solid, leaving Earth lifeless.

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Chapter 2: What If the Sun Vanished?

In the video titled "How Long Would We Have to Live if the Sun Went Out?", experts delve into the potential outcomes of losing our Sun and what that would mean for life on Earth.

The second video, "Would We Survive if the Sun Suddenly Disappeared?" explores the survival prospects for humanity and other life forms in such a dire situation.