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Space & Astronomy

Is the universe on the brink of collapse ?

By T.K. Randall
March 27, 2015 · Comment icon 21 comments

Will the universe eventually collapse in on itself ? Image Credit: NASA/ESA/ESO
Some scientists believe that the cosmos will eventually collapse in on itself in a 'Big Crunch' event.
The stark opposite of the Big Bang, the Big Crunch would see all the matter and energy in the universe collapse back down in to a single point of infinite density and temperature.

It is one of several theories put forward to explain what might ultimately become of the universe and assumes that the current expansion will eventually slow down, stop and go in to reverse. Some believe that the entire cycle of Big Bang and Big Crunch may even repeat over and over in an infinite loop.

In support of this theory, two physicists have recently published a paper detailing a new model which suggests that the beginning of this collapse may be closer than we think.
"According to the new mechanism, the universe originated under a set of specific initial conditions so that it naturally evolved to its present state of acceleration and will continue on a path toward collapse," said study co-author Antonio Padilla.

According to the paper, the circumstances predicted to precede the collapse - a period of late cosmic acceleration - match what is believed to now be happening based on current observations.

Despite being described as "imminent" however the collapse certainly isn't something that we need to be worrying about - in practical terms such an event would still take tens of billions of years.

Source: Digital Journal | Comments (21)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #12 Posted by Oops Monkey 9 years ago
Some scientists believe that the cosmos will eventually collapse in on itself in a 'Big Crunch' event. Read More: http://www.unexplain...ink-of-collapse Everything which is created, is eventually destroyed. So, "Is the universe on the brink of collapse?" - yes, and no. Yes, it will eventually be destroyed, if by collapse or some other event; but no, by definition it's not on the "brink of collapse". Unless you define "brink" as 100,000,000,000 years.
Comment icon #13 Posted by ancient astronaut 9 years ago
The "Big Crunch" sponsored by Doritos.
Comment icon #14 Posted by Sundew 9 years ago
All this doom and gloom junk get's old after a while. I think you are correct. While some might say it's hiding you head in the sand, I know quite a few people who almost never watch the news (and who can blame them) and they seem to lead happier lives. I saw a list of things that could take us all out: plague, over population, gamma ray burst, black holes, solar flares, nuclear war, A.I., alien invasion (riiiiiight) on and on, it does get very old.
Comment icon #15 Posted by Noteverythingisaconspiracy 9 years ago
I like how we can determine that the universe is not infinite and will collapse on itself, we can't even get out of our own galaxy, we can't even determine if life exists on other planets, we can't even understand how certain things work in the universe, but we know that it's not infinite and that it will collapse on itself.... We know nothing. I think you missed this, rather important, part of the article: "It is one of several theories" Reading the article you comment on is allways a good idea. Oh and by the way science never claims that it known everything: "Science knows it doesn't know ev... [More]
Comment icon #16 Posted by equus hemionus 9 years ago
any body remember chicken little?
Comment icon #17 Posted by Mikko-kun 9 years ago
Science is not a person.
Comment icon #18 Posted by Sir Smoke aLot 9 years ago
Oh, that collapse story again
Comment icon #19 Posted by Lenore Graves 9 years ago
Great, Now I craving a KFC Big crunch burger!
Comment icon #20 Posted by travelnjones 9 years ago
Universe is finite yet unbound homes
Comment icon #21 Posted by Whisperer 9 years ago
Well some folks just cant help themselves when they crave a little attention....Big Bang, Big Crunch...life is just a ruddy great big Sherbet isn't it...


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