- July 8, 2025
What If The Sun Vanished For One Minute — Just Darkness Or Total Doom?
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If the Sun vanished for a minute, Earth would briefly darken but remain unharmed. Longer absences would cause catastrophic environmental and social collapse
If the Sun disappeared for just a minute, little damage would occur, but an absence lasting years would lead to the collapse of civilisation and the extinction of most humans. (News18)
Have you ever wondered what might happen if the Sun, our source of light and warmth, vanished suddenly for just one minute? Would it cause the end of the world, or merely plunge us into temporary darkness?
This question, reminiscent of a sci-fi plot, sparked lively debate on Quora. Some users noted that even if the Sun disappeared for up to 8.5 minutes, Earth would remain mostly unaffected. Longer absences, however, would have devastating consequences.
Delayed Awareness
We wouldn’t notice the Sun’s disappearance straight away due to the approximately 8.5 minutes it takes for sunlight to reach Earth. Therefore, even if the Sun ceased to exist immediately, its light would continue to shine for that time.
As a Quora user pointed out, those in daylight would experience darkness only after this delay. Earth’s retained heat would prevent an instant freeze. Comparisons were made to an unexpected nightfall or a solar eclipse, causing temporary darkness. This might cause some confusion or even accidents, but the planet’s temperature would remain stable during this brief interval.
First Few Hours: No Panic, No Major Change
Experts agree that a one-minute absence of the Sun would not cause noticeable effects. Many people might not even realise it happened.
However, if the Sun vanished for weeks or months, the impact would be severe. Within a week, small plants would begin to die, and temperatures would fall to around 0°C (32°F).
After months without sunlight, photosynthesis would cease, leading to the death of most vegetation, although large trees might survive for decades. The sea’s surface would gradually freeze, although it could take thousands of years for the entire ocean to solidify.
Long-Term Catastrophe
Respondents concurred that a one-minute disappearance of the Sun would cause no major harm to Earth. The greatest effects would likely be social and psychological, possibly inciting panic or confusion.
A disappearance lasting years, however, would bring civilisation to collapse, with most humans perishing. Survivors might be forced to live near the Earth’s core, depending on geothermal energy in artificial habitats.
Should the Sun remain absent for a century or two, temperatures would plunge to around -240°C (-400°F), the atmosphere would dissipate, harmful cosmic radiation would bombard the planet, and Earth would become a barren wasteland, sustaining only some deep-sea bacteria.
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