Universe may die faster and sooner than previously expected — Here’s why

New Research Suggests Universe Could Fade Away Sooner Than Expected (Image: Canva)

Our universe's extended future could be shorter than thought. New estimates from Radboud University indicate stars and objects decay quicker. This finding defies previous concepts of cosmic lifetimes.

Quicker Decay via Hawking Radiation

A trio of researchers at Radboud University investigated a specific process. It is known as Hawking radiation, originally described by Stephen Hawking. This radiation makes black holes gradually lose mass. Black holes disintegrate into particles and energy over time.

In 2023, the group disclosed neutron stars can fade too. Similar to black holes, neutron stars can "evaporate" by way of this radiation. This raised numerous questions regarding the timing of decay.

The most recent studies indicate that white dwarf stars survive 10^78 years. Previous estimates put them lasting 10^1,100 years. This enormous discrepancy reduces the expected lifespan of the universe a great deal.

Cosmic Objects and Their Evaporation

The researchers also considered objects like the moon and human beings. Based on their calculations, these would evaporate after 10^90 years. But natural processes could terminate them even earlier than calculated. Lead author Heino Falcke stated that the end of the universe is nearer, yet far from it.

The study was published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. It brings new arguments on how cosmic objects vanish with time. While the timescales are still immense, the research changes our cosmic perspective.