A New Theory on How the Universe Has Evolved Since the Big Bang

The Evolution of the Universe Since the Big Bang

 

Scientists Reveal.. The Universe's Death Date Is Sooner Than We Thought

Scientists have revealed that the universe is already past the middle of its lifespan, indicating that its cosmic end may come much sooner than previously thought.

According to the study conducted at Cornell University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the universe will reach its end in 33.3 billion years. This means we only have about 19 billion years left before its "big collapse," a scenario known as the "big crash," in which the universe begins to contract until everything collapses back into a single, dense point, the opposite of the Big Bang that sparked the beginning of the universe.

Dark Energy Weakening and Collapsing

Scientists have relied on a new cosmological model known as the "Axial Dark Energy Model," which relies on the idea that dark energy, the force accelerating the expansion of the universe, may not be as constant as previously thought. Instead of remaining stable, the study suggests that this energy may weaken over time, allowing gravitational forces to take over again.

The researchers say that the cosmological constant for dark energy in this model may be negative, meaning that the expansion of the universe will peak and then begin to gradually contract, until all galaxies, stars, and black holes collapse in a cosmic endgame.

The Universe Will Not Expand Forever

These findings contradict the prevailing belief that the universe expands forever. NASA says that dark energy makes up more than 68% of the universe's content, but it remains a puzzling mystery. Some of it is thought to be "vacuum energy" related to Einstein's cosmological constant, which varies with time and space, or even traces of cosmic filaments from the early universe.

But the new study, based on data from large observational projects such as the "Energy Survey" The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DES) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) indicate that the universe may not be so simple, and that our understanding of its cosmological foundations may need a radical rethink.

The fate of the universe hangs in the balance

Although astronomical scenarios for the end of the universe are numerous, from the "Big Rip" to "Global Freeze," the new study revives the "Big Crunch" hypothesis and prompts scientists to rethink the future of spacetime itself.

The researchers say, "The age of the universe is a fundamental factor in cosmology, and based on the best model values, we find that the total age of the universe is about 33 billion years."

Although this time horizon seems very distant by human standards, what interests scientists today is understanding whether the universe is heading toward an infinite expansion or toward a definite and relatively close end to its cosmic age.