The researchers noted that the rate at which the Earth has been losing heat “directly links to the fundamental question on how long the Earth will remain dynamically active.”.

The researchers examined bridgmanite, a conductive mineral that can be located between the core and the mantle of Earth, according to NBC News.

Andrew Rushby of the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom forecasted in 2013 that the Earth could remain habitable for between 1.75 billion and 3.25 billion more years, according to NBC News, as long as the planet does not experience a nuclear holocaust, rogue asteroid or a different unexpected catastrophe.