‘Supercontinent’ could make Earth uninhabitable in 250m years, study predicts

A supercontinent could raise global temperatures to those not seen since the Permian–Triassic era, 260m years ago, when more than 90% of species were eradicated. Photograph: Dmitry Rukhlenko/Travel Photos/Alamy

The formation of a supercontinent on Earth could wipe out humans and any other mammals that are still around in 250m years, according to a study.

The mass extinction would be caused primarily by heat stress as a result of greater volcanic activity that would put twice as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as current levels, an older sun that would emit more radiation and the extent of inland deserts in the tropics.