A new study by Dutch scientists has revised its estimate of when the universe will die out, predicting it will happen much sooner than previously thought – but still 78 years away. The research, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, used Hawking radiation to calculate the “evaporation time” of the longest-lasting celestial body, a white dwarf star.
According to lead author Heino Falcke, the universe’s final end is coming sooner than expected but it still takes a very long time. The scientists calculated that the evaporation time depends on density, enabling them to determine the theoretical dissolution of the longest-lasting body.
The study’s findings come after recent data suggested dark energy – a mysterious force making up nearly 70% of the universe – may be weakening. If dark energy ebbs with time, the universe could one day stop expanding and eventually collapse in what’s called the “Big Crunch.”
While this news might seem alarming, experts say there’s no need to panic. The sun is expected to become too hot for life in about a billion years, and our star will expand towards Earth in 8 billion years, ultimately gobbling up the planet.
The research was part of a broader effort to better understand Hawking radiation and its implications for the universe. With new data being released on dark energy, scientists are shedding light on the mysteries of the cosmos, including the potential fate of our universe.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/universe-end-much-sooner-than-expected-researchers-say