ELI5: What would happen if the Sun disappeared?

Imagine the Sun is a giant lightbulb that keeps our world warm and bright. Now, let's say that lightbulb suddenly went out.

What would happen in our everyday life?

• Lights Out!: First, it would get really dark, really fast. No more sunny mornings, no more sunsets. Just pitch black, like the middle of the night, all the time. We'd need flashlights and lamps all the time.

• Brrr!: Second, it would get very cold. The Sun heats up our planet. Without it, the temperature would plummet. Think of winter, but much, much worse. We'd need lots of blankets, warm clothes, and heaters. But even those wouldn't help for long, as the Earth would become a frozen ball.

• Plants Go Hungry: Plants need sunlight to grow. No Sun, no plants. That means no fruits, vegetables, or grains. Our food supply would quickly disappear. Animals that eat plants would also disappear, and then animals that eat those animals.

• No More Power: Many of our homes and businesses use solar panels to make electricity from sunlight. No Sun, no solar power. That means power outages would be common.

• Gravity Problem: The Sun's gravity keeps the Earth and other planets orbiting around it. If the Sun vanished, the Earth would fly off into space in a straight line. This would be bad news!

• Ocean Freezes: The oceans would eventually freeze over, making it impossible for ships to travel or for most sea life to survive.