Theories about the end of the universe. The fate of the universe is determined by its density . The preponderance of evidence to date, based on measurements of the rate of expansion and the mass density, favors a universe that will continue to expand indefinitely, resulting in the “Big Freeze” scenario below.
What would cause the future expansion of the universe?
Astronomers theorize that the faster expansion rate is due to a mysterious, dark force that is pulling galaxies apart . One explanation for dark energy is that it is a property of space. ... As a result, this form of energy would cause the universe to expand faster and faster.
What might the universe be like in the distant future?
Theories about the end of the universe. The fate of the universe is determined by its density . The preponderance of evidence to date, based on measurements of the rate of expansion and the mass density, favors a universe that will continue to expand indefinitely, resulting in the “Big Freeze” scenario below.
What is happening to the universe as time passes?
As time goes on, the Universe not only forms elements, atoms, and clumps and clusters together that lead to stars and galaxies, but expands and cools the entire time . The Universe continues to expand even today, growing at a rate of 6.5 light-years in all directions per year as time goes on.
Are any distant galaxies moving towards Earth?
Almost all other galaxies we can observe are moving away from us with the expansion of the universe, according to the Hubble statement. ... So, from the perspective of Earth, we see the galaxy moving toward us, even though other galaxies in the same cluster appear to be moving away from us at high velocities.
Does the universe go on forever?
Many think it’s likely you would just keep passing galaxies in every direction, forever. In that case, the universe would be infinite, with no end . ... Scientists now consider it unlikely the universe has an end – a region where the galaxies stop or where there would be a barrier of some kind marking the end of space.
How long will universe last?
22 billion years in the future is the earliest possible end of the Universe in the Big Rip scenario, assuming a model of dark energy with w = −1.5. False vacuum decay may occur in 20 to 30 billion years if Higgs boson field is metastable.
Can the universe end?
Astronomers once thought the universe could collapse in a Big Crunch. Now most agree it will end with a Big Freeze . ... Trillions of years in the future, long after Earth is destroyed, the universe will drift apart until galaxy and star formation ceases. Slowly, stars will fizzle out, turning night skies black.
What is outside the universe?
The universe, being all there is, is infinitely big and has no edge, so there’s no outside to even talk about. ... The current width of the observable universe is about 90 billion light-years. And presumably, beyond that boundary, there’s a bunch of other random stars and galaxies.
What makes up 90 percent of the matter in the universe?
NEW YORK — All the stars, planets and galaxies that can be seen today make up just 4 percent of the universe. ... The other 96 percent is made of stuff astronomers can’t see, detect or even comprehend. These mysterious substances are called dark energy and dark matter.
Will a black hole come to earth?
Absolutely not . While a black hole does have an immense gravitational field, they are only “dangerous” if you get very close to them. ... It would get very dark of course and very cold, but the black hole’s gravity at our distance from it would not be a concern. Is there life on other planets?
Do wormholes exist?
Wormholes are consistent with the general theory of relativity, but whether wormholes actually exist remains to be seen . ... Theoretically, a wormhole might connect extremely long distances such as a billion light years, or short distances such as a few meters, or different points in time, or even different universes.
What is the Black Hole Era?
The Black Hole Era, which is predicted to last from about 1040 to 10100 (10 duodecillion to 1 googol) years after the Big Bang , spans an unimaginably long stretch of time, even for astronomical timescales. Imagine a universe with no bright stars, no planets, and no life whatsoever — that’s the Black Hole Era.
Can galaxies travel faster than light?
All the galaxies in the Universe beyond a certain distance appear to recede from us at speeds faster than light. ... They only appear to move faster than light if we insist on a purely special relativistic explanation of redshift, a foolish path to take in an era where general relativity is well-confirmed.
Do any galaxies show a blueshift?
The simple answer to this is no, they do not . In fact, almost all galaxies are observed to have redshifts. The universe is expanding, and this “cosmological redshift” causes the light from distant galaxies to be stretched (made redder) during the time it travels from the galaxy to our telescopes.
Are we moving faster than the speed of light?
The controversial hypothetical particles Tachyons are said to travel faster than light. However, according to Einstein’s special theory of relativity particles regarding speed of light, they can never travel faster than light in the real world .
