For decades, scientists believed it to be a fundamental truth: our Universe is constantly expanding, and this process will continue forever. However, new research refutes this dogma, offering a much more dramatic conclusion — the possibility of a new Big Bang or a grand collapse. The fate of space turns out to be much more uncertain than we thought.
The key to unlocking the future of the Universe lies in the greatest mystery of modern physics: dark energy. This mysterious force, which makes up about 70% of the entire contents of the cosmos, is responsible for its accelerated expansion. The nature of this mysterious substance remains a deep mystery and one of the unsolved problems of modern astrophysics. Despite powerful instruments such as the James Webb Telescope, we still do not understand what dark energy really is. And it is precisely this uncertainty that makes the fate of the universe so unpredictable.
Frost against collapse
Currently, astrophysicists are considering two fundamentally different scenarios for the death of the Universe, both of which depend entirely on the behavior of dark energy.
The first scenario, known as the “heat death of the universe,” is based on the assumption that dark energy is a constant force, similar to Einstein’s cosmological constant. In this case, the expansion of the Universe will accelerate forever. Galaxies, stars, and even elementary particles will steadily move away from each other. The Universe will become incredibly sparse, cold, and monotonous. The temperature everywhere will approach absolute zero. Stars will burn out, new ones will not form, and black holes will gradually evaporate. Only a cold, sparse sea of particles and photons with negligible energy will remain. But life, if it still exists somewhere in space, will disappear long before this final stage.
The second scenario – the “Big Crunch” – is much more explosive and dramatic. It arises if we assume that the properties of dark energy change over time. Some theoretical models suggest that in the future, dark energy may not only lose its “repulsive” force, but also acquire opposite, gravitational properties. If this happens, accelerated expansion will stop and quickly be replaced by accelerated contraction. Galaxies, stars, and planets will begin to move toward each other at unprecedented speeds. The Universe, born in the Big Bang, may die in a giant implosion – the Big Crunch. All matter is compressed back into an incredibly dense, hot point — a singularity, like a giant black hole that has swallowed itself. This scenario means the literal end of space, time, and the laws of physics as we know them.
Critical value for the present
Although the time frames of both apocalyptic scenarios are incredibly long — ranging from billions to trillions of years — humanity is unlikely to witness them. However, understanding the fate of the Universe is already critical today.
Determining the nature of dark energy — whether it is constant or evolving — is a top priority in modern cosmology. The answer to this question will radically change our understanding of fundamental physics, gravity, and quantum effects on a cosmic scale. Some studies even suggest that the aging processes of the Universe, such as the rate at which stars burn out, may be occurring faster than previously thought, raising new questions about the state of matter and energy. The realization of the transience of even space has a profound philosophical and existential connotation, forcing us to rethink our place in the grand cosmic history.
The search for answers continues
Scientists are actively searching for the answer. Space missions such as NASA’s future Nancy Grace Roman telescope and powerful ground-based observatories are carefully studying how dark energy has affected the expansion of the Universe in different eras, trying to find “fingerprints” of its true nature.
It is still too early to draw definitive conclusions. Will our world stretch into a cold, dark void? Does it merge into a fiery singularity? Perhaps there is a third, still unknown option? The only thing that is certain is that the mystery of dark energy is not just an academic curiosity. This is the key to revealing the ultimate fate of all that exists. And this search continues, revealing new aspects of an incredible cosmic saga.
Earlier, we reported on how scientists obtained contradictory data about the most mysterious force in the Universe.
According to BGR
