Scientists have predicted future glacial periods by matching Earth's past ice ages to its orbit around the sun. But their new model doesn’t account for how human-made carbon emissions could change these processes.

Scientists say small changes in the way the Earth orbits the sun hold the key in major global changes in climate, like ice ages.

Earth emerged from the last ice age around 11,700 years ago. A new analysis suggests the next one could be expected in 10,000 years’ time.