The Ultimate Fate of the Universe: Scientific Scenarios TR/EN

ENTRY

The ultimate fate of the universe is one of the most fundamental and challenging questions of modern cosmology. Our observations show that the universe began with the Big Bang about 13.8 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since.he ultimate fate of the universe is one of the most fundamental and challenging questions of modern cosmology. Our observations show that the universe began with the Big Bang about 13.8 billion years ago he ultimate fate of the universe is one of the most fundamental and challenging questions of modern cosmology. Our observations show that the universe began with the Big Bang about 13.8 billion years ago and has been expanding ever since. But whether this expansion will last forever, reverse, or end more dramatically depends on the density and nature of the basic components of the universe (matter, dark matter, and especially dark energy). In the light of current scientific data, there are four basic scenarios that stand out about the end of the universe.

The Big Freeze and Heat Death (The Big Freeze & Heat Death)

The scenario that is most supported by current observational data is the "Big Freeze".he Big Freeze and Heat Death (The Big Freeze & Heat Death)

The scenario that is most supported by current observational data is the "Big Freeze". This theory predicts that the expansion of the universe will continue forever he Big Freeze and Heat Death (The Big Freeze & Heat Death)

The scenario that is most supported by current observational data is the "Big Freeze". This theory predicts that the expansion of the universe will continue forever and even accelerate. The driving force behind this acceleration is the mysterious dark energy, which makes up about 70% of the total energy density of the universe. This accelerated expansion, discovered in 1998 by Saul Perlmutter, Adam Riess and Brian Schmidt (2011 Nobel Prize winners in Physics) by observing distant supernovae, has radically changed our understanding of the fate of the universe.

Expansion of the Cosmological Horizon: 

Due to the accelerating expansion, distant galaxies begin to move away from us faster than the speed of light. This means that their light will never reach usxpansion of the Cosmological Horizon: 

Due to the accelerating expansion, distant galaxies begin to move away from us faster than the speed of light. This means that their light will never reach us. In billions of xpansion of the Cosmological Horizon: 

Due to the accelerating expansion, distant galaxies begin to move away from us faster than the speed of light. This means that their light we.

Expansion of the Cosmological Horion: 

Due to the accelerating expansion, distant galaxies begin to move away from us faster than the speed of light. This means that their light will never reach us. In billions of years, galaxies other than the Milky Way will move out of our observation horizon, and the night sky will darken completely, except for a few galaxies in our local cluster.

The End of Star Formation:

 As the universe expands and cools, the intergalactic gas clouds that will form new stars are depleted. In about 1 trillion years, the last star formation in the universe will cease.

Death of the Stars (Degenerate Age): 

Existing stars complete their lives by exhausting their fuel. Massive stars explode as supernovas, while smaller stars like the Sun turn into white dwarfsxisting stars complete their lives by exhausting their fuel. Massive stars explode as supernovas, while smaller stars like the Sun turn into white dwarfs. All that remains are these stellar remnants (white dwarfs, neutron stars) and black holes.

Proton Decay and the Age of the Black Hole: 

If protons are unstable, as predicted by the Grand Unified Theories ( GUTs), after an inconceivable period of 10^36 years, all atomic matter (protons and neutrons) decays into lighter particles and radiation.otons are unstable, as predicted by the Grand Unified Theories ( GUTs), after an inconceivable period of 10^36 years, all atomic matter (protons and neutrons) decays into lighter particles and radiation. The universe becomes a massive collection of black holes, photons and leptons.

Heat Death: 

Finally, even black holes, the last organized structures in the universe, eventually disappear through a very slow evaporation process called Hawking radiation, theorized by Stephen Hawking.ly, even black holes, the last organized structures in the universe, eventually disappear through a very slow evaporation process called  radiation, theorized by Stephen Hawking. The evaporation of a supermassive blaack holes, the last organized structures in the universe, eventually disappear through a very slow evaporation process called Hawking radiation, theorized by StepheFinally, even black hole last organized structures in the universe, eventually disappear through a very slow evaporation process called Hawking radiation, theorized by Stephen Hawking. The evaporation of a supermassive black hole could take 10^100 (a googol) years. When this process is complete, the universe reaches maximum entropy. Everywhere becomes very close to absolute zero in temperature and homogeneous. Since there is no free energy left to do work, no thermodynamic process can occur. This state is called "Heat Death" and the universe becomes an infinite, cold, dark and dead void.

The Big Crunch (The Big Crunch)

One of the most popular scenarios before the discovery of dark energy, the "Big Rip" is based on a model in which the total mass and energy density of the universe is high enough to halt and reverse expansion.ne of the most popular scenarios before the discovery of dark energy, the "Big Rip" is based on a model in which the total mass and energy density of the universe is high enough to halt and reverse expansiOne of the most popular scenarios before the discovery of dark energy, the "Big Rip" is based on a model in which the total mass and energy density of the universe is high enough to halt and reverse expansion. If the density of the universe is greater than a certain "critical density" value, gravity will eventually prevail.

The functioning of this scenario is a process that is the exact opposite of the Big Bang:

Expansion Stops and Contraction Begins:

After billions of years, the expansion slows down, stops and the universe begins to contract under its own gravity.

Blue Shift and Warming: 

As galaxies begin to approach each other, their light shifts to blue instead of redshifting. The temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) increases, and over time even exceeds the surface temperature of stars.s galaxies begin to approach each other, their light shifts to blue instead of redshifting. The temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) inclaxies begin to approach each other, their light shifts to blue instead of redshifting. The temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) increases, and over time even exceeds the surface temperature of stars. This begins to "cook" the planets and stars from the outside.

Destruction of Structures: 

Galaxies, star systems and eventually stars collide and merge with each other. The universe turns into a giant ball of plasma that rapidly increases in temperature and density.

Return to Singularity: 

When shrinkage reaches its final stage, the temperature and density increase so much that even atomic nuclei break down. All matter and energy return to a singularity of infinite density (singularity), just as at the beginning of the universe.When shrinkage reaches its final stage, the temperature and density increase so much that even atomic nuclei break down. All matter and energy return to a sihen shrinkage reaches its final stage, the temperature and density increase so much that even atomic nuclei break down. All matter and energy return to a singularity of infinite density (singularity), just as at the beginning of the universe.

This scenario also opens the door to cyclical models of the universe, such as the "Big Bounce" put forward by physicists such as John Archibald Wheeler. Dec. According to these models, the singularity created by the Great Collapse can trigger a new Big Bang, creating an endless cycle of universes.

Vacuum Instability (Vacuum Instability)

This is the most sudden and perhaps most alarming of the scenarios. It has its roots in the Standard Model of particle physics. According to this theory, the Higgs field that makes up the fabric of the universe may not be at its lowest energy level ("true vacuum")his is the most sudden and perhaps most alarming of the scenarios. It has its roots in the Standard Model of particle physics. According to this theorThis is the most sudden and perhaps most alarming of the scenarios. It has its roots in the Standard Model of particle physics. According to this theory, the Higgs field that makes up the fabric of the universe may not be at its lowest energy level ("true vacuum"). Instead, we may be in a higher-energy but temporarily stable "metastable vacuum" state.

What it takes for this scenario to happen:

Quantum Tunneling: 

Somewhere in the universe, a purely random quantum event can cause a point of the Higgs field to "tunnel" to this lower energy level.

Expansion of the Real Vacuum Bubble: 

This tunneling creates a "real vacuum" bubble that expands at the speed of light.

Change of Physical Laws Expansion of the Real Vacuum Bubble: 

This tunneling creates a "real vacuum" bubble that expands at the speed of light.

Change of Physical Laws: 

Anything that enters this bubble is instantly transformed. Because in the new vacuum state, the value of thsion of the Real Vacuum Bubble: 

This tunneling creates a "real vacuum" bubble that expands at the speed of light.

Change of Physical Laws: 

Anything that enters this bubble is instantly transformed. Because in the new vacuum state, the value of the Higgs field is different. This changes the masses of fundamental particles such as electrons and even the behavior of fundamental physical forces. The laws of chemistry and physics as we know them become invalid. Atoms and molecular structures instantly become unstable and disappear.

The most concrete evidence for this theory comes from measurements made at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The masses of the Higgs boson and the top quark are critical in calculating the stability of the vacuumhe most concrete evidence for this theory comes from measurements made at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The masses of the Higgs boson and the top quark are critical in calculating the stability of the vacThe most concrete evidence for this theory comes from measurements made at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The masses of the Higgs boson and the top quark are critical in calculating the stability of the vacuum. Current measurements suggest that our universe is either completely stable or right on the edge of metastability. This makes the Vacuum Instability scenario no longer speculative but a theoretically possible outcome.

The Big Rip (The Big Rip)

This scenario is a more severe version of the Big Freeze and is based on a different assumption about the nature of dark energy.his scenario is a more severe version of the Big Freeze and is based on a different assumption about the nature of dark energy. If dark energy is not a cosmological constant with a constant density, but in his scenario is a more severe version of the Big Freeze and is based on a different assumption about the nature of dark energy. If dark energy is not a cosmological constant witThis scenario is a more severe version of the Big Freeze and is based on a different assumption about the nature of dark energy. If dark energy is not a cosmological constant with a constant density, but in a form called "phantom energy", whose density increases with time and is called "phantom energy", the result is a "Big Rupture". This idea was put forward by Robert Caldwell and his colleagues.

The increasing driving force of the phantom energy overcomes all connected structures in the universe over time:

~1 Billion Years Before the Rip: Galaxy clusters disperse.

~60 Million Years Before Ripping: Galaxies like the Milky Way break apart.

 ~3 Months Before Ripping: Star systems like the Solar System lose their gravitational bonds  Years Before Ripping: Galaxies like the Milky Way break apart.

 ~3 Months Before Ripping: Star systems like t~60 Million Years Before Ripping: Galaxies like the Milky Way break apart.

 ~3 Months Before Ripping: Star systems like the Solar System lose their gravitational bonds.

~30 Minutes Before Ripping: Planets like Earth explode and scatter.

10^-19 Seconds Before Ripping: Atoms and nuclei break apart.

The Last Moment: 

The fabric of the universe, that is, space-time itself, ruptures and becomes a singularity.

As a result, research on the ultimate fate of the universe has focused on understanding the nature of dark energy and the stability of the vacuum. Although the current evidence leads us to a slow and quiet end, namely the Big Freeze, other possibilities also continue to be actively explored at the frontiers of modern physics.