<p>Some billions of years ago, systems like the Earth couldn't emerge and therefore life couldn't arise, because not enough of the heavy elements had formed yet. </p>

<p>Assuming there'll neither be a big crunch nor a rip, stars will still be forming in a trillion years.</p>

<p>So the sun is one of the earlier stars in the lifetime of the universe.</p>

<p>It seems weird to be living at the very start of the era of the universe in which life can evolve. 
If a conscious being was chosen at random, the odds of it being on one of the first planets that allow life to evolve seems very slim! </p>

<p>So I'm curious about whether some evidence indicates that life will be less likely to emerge later in the universe.</p>

<p>Will stars of a very late generation (the sun being a 3rd generation star)) be similar to the sun, keeping the possibility open for earth-like planets to form?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-13T19:57:06.490Z
Since the universe is expanding, it will be harder and harder for new stars to form when everything is so spread out, which will make life less likely.
john doe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-13T21:54:51.387Z
@johndoe The Milky Way won't expand, so that won't be a problem (unless $w$ evolves, resulting in a Big Rip, but that's excluded by the OP).
pela
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-13T22:46:47.440Z
The Carter paradox. The end of the world is nigh.
ProfRob
<star-formation><life><astrobiology><future>
Will the conditions that allow life to evolve still be around in a trillion years?
Valdegg
# Will the conditions that allow life to evolve still be around in a trillion years?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-13)

Some billions of years ago, systems like the Earth couldn't emerge and therefore life couldn't arise, because not enough of the heavy elements had formed yet.

Assuming there'll neither be a big crunch nor a rip, stars will still be forming in a trillion years.

So the sun is one of the earlier stars in the lifetime of the universe.

It seems weird to be living at the very start of the era of the universe in which life can evolve.
If a conscious being was chosen at random, the odds of it being on one of the first planets that allow life to evolve seems very slim!

So I'm curious about whether some evidence indicates that life will be less likely to emerge later in the universe.

Will stars of a very late generation (the sun being a 3rd generation star)) be similar to the sun, keeping the possibility open for earth-like planets to form?

**Tags:** star-formation, life, astrobiology, future

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Since the universe is expanding, it will be harder and harder for new stars to form when everything is so spread out, which will make life less likely.  
> **username_2**: @johndoe The Milky Way won't expand, so that won't be a problem (unless $w$ evolves, resulting in a Big Rip, but that's excluded by the OP).  
> **username_3**: The Carter paradox. The end of the world is nigh.  

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## 0 answers

