Earth continents may one day merge into a single vast landmass once again and the consequences for life could be severe.
New projections suggest that in about 250 million years, today’s drifting continents will collide to form a future supercontinent, dramatically reshaping global geography and climate. The study, published in Nature indicates that much of this merged landmass would experience extreme heat and widespread aridity, leaving only limited areas suitable for mammals.
The research, led by scientists at the University of Bristol, used plate tectonic reconstructions to model how Earth’s landmasses may assemble in the distant future. Over millions of years, oceanic crust cools and sinks at subduction zones, pulling continents together and gradually closing oceans such as the Atlantic.
As tectonic plates converge, inland seas vanish and new mountain ranges rise. In the projected scenario, Africa and Europe collide completely, eliminating the Mediterranean basin and welding surrounding regions into a continuous stretch of land.
Climate simulations tied to the new geography show that the interior of the future supercontinent would face prolonged periods of intense heat, with summer temperatures in many areas exceeding 40°C (104°F). Far from the moderating influence of oceans, these inland regions would experience extreme “continentality” sharp temperature swings and persistent dryness.
Dr. Alexander Farnsworth, who contributed to translating plate movements into climate forecasts, warned that such conditions would be extremely challenging for mammals. When wet-bulb temperatures which combine heat and humidity climb too high, sweating becomes ineffective, placing severe limits on survival.
Additional warming would come from heightened volcanic activity during continental assembly, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. At the same time, the Sun is expected to be about 2.5% brighter in 250 million years, further intensifying baseline temperatures.
The study suggests that coastal and high-latitude regions would offer relative refuge. Areas closer to oceans would benefit from moderated temperatures and continued moisture cycles, while much of the interior would likely be dominated by desert conditions.
The findings underscore how deeply geology influences climate. The arrangement of continents determines where oceans can transport heat and moisture, ultimately shaping which regions remain livable.
Although the projected supercontinent lies hundreds of millions of years in the future, researchers say such long-range modeling helps refine climate tools used today. By testing how models perform under extreme planetary conditions, scientists can improve predictions for both Earth’s near-term future and distant exoplanets.
The research serves as a reminder that Earth’s map is never permanent. Continents drift, oceans open and close, and climate responds accordingly sometimes in ways that fundamentally redefine where life can endure.