Dutch scientists predict universe's end closer than expected
The latest research conducted by Dutch scientists indicates that the universe may meet its end much sooner than previously anticipated. While we still have a time frame that researchers describe as 10 to the power of 78 years, this figure represents a significant change compared to earlier estimates.
What you need to know
- New research from Radboud University suggests that the universe may conclude its existence earlier than earlier thought. According to the new calculations, all stars will extinguish in one quinvigintillion years. That's a 1 followed by seventy-eight zeros.
- Scientists based their calculations on Hawking radiation, which proposes that black holes and other cosmic objects have finite lifespans.
- The Sun will become too hot for life on Earth in about a billion years, and in eight billion years, it will swallow our planet.
What are the new findings by the scientists?
A team of scientists from Radboud University in the Netherlands, led by Heino Falcke, has published research indicating that the universe may end sooner than previously thought. According to their calculations, based on the theory of Hawking radiation, the universe will last for another 10 to the power of 78 years, or one quinvigintillion years (numerically, a 1 followed by 78 zeros).
This represents a major change from earlier estimates. Previously, it was suggested that the universe could survive for another 10 to the power of 1100 years (a 1 followed by 1100 zeros).
What does this mean for the future of Earth?
Even though the end of the universe is far off, scientists remind us that life on Earth will end much sooner. In about a billion years, our Sun will become too hot for life to persist, causing the oceans to evaporate. Eventually, in eight billion years, the Sun will expand, ultimately engulfing our planet.
What is the theory of Hawking radiation?
This research is grounded in the theory of Hawking radiation, which posits that black holes emit radiation, leading to their gradual dissipation. Scientists from Radboud University have extended this theory to other cosmic objects, such as white dwarfs, enabling them to calculate the theoretical time of their decay. Walter van Suijlekom, a co-author of the research, highlights that such an approach might enhance the understanding of this theory and potentially unravel its mysteries in the future.
