Earth is due for a new supercontinent in about 250 million years

Science · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The continents are currently drifting, caught in a massive cycle that will eventually pull them back together. This future landmass, potentially called Pangaea Ultima, could fundamentally reshape the planet, potentially making much of the Earth's surface uninhabitable for mammals as we know them.

Geologists believe our planet is currently in the middle of a supercontinent cycle. While the last supercontinent, Pangaea, broke apart roughly 200 million years ago, the tectonic plates are already beginning the long process of regrouping. This new era of Earth's history is expected to culminate in about 250 million years when a massive landmass forms at the equator.

The formation of this new supercontinent, often referred to as Pangaea Ultima, involves a dramatic geological reorganization. As the Atlantic Ocean shrinks, a merged Afro-Eurasian continent—comprising Europe, Asia, and Africa—is expected to crash into the Americas. This collision will create a singular, massive landmass that looks nothing like the continents we navigate today.

This transformation carries significant consequences for life on Earth. Researchers predict that the emergence of Pangaea Ultima could drive increased volcanism and raise carbon dioxide levels. Such environmental shifts could leave much of the land barren, with estimates suggesting that up to 92% of the Earth's surface could become uninhabitable for mammals. As geologist Hannah Davies of the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences notes, these future conditions suggest that life may face increasingly difficult challenges as the continents merge.

Predicting the exact appearance of this future world remains difficult, as the final shape depends on various complex geological factors. While the general timeline of 250 million years provides a window, the specific configuration of the continents remains a subject of scientific estimation.

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