New research suggests the universe might collapse in a Big Crunch instead of expanding forever, challenging the long-held belief in eternal expansion.
New theory challenges universe's fate
A new theory suggests the universe might eventually collapse in a Big Crunch rather than expanding forever, contradicting the long-held belief that it would end in a "thermal death." Physicist Henry Tye and his team at Cornell University propose that the mysterious force driving expansion—known as the cosmological constant—might have a negative value instead of a positive one.Research based on dark energy surveys
The study relies on data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), two major independent projects tracking dark energy. Their findings align despite being based in different parts of the world, reducing the chance of local bias influencing the results.Cosmological constant's shifting role
The Cornell model introduces a hypothetical particle with very low mass that acted like a classical cosmological constant in the early universe. This particle would have lost that property over time, allowing the cosmological constant to shift to a negative value without disrupting other parts of the theory.Current age and future of the universe
The universe is currently estimated to be 13.8 billion years old, and the model suggests we are halfway through its lifespan. However, this conclusion depends on precise measurements of cosmological parameters, which are expected to become more accurate as new data surveys refine their results.Future projects to test the theory
Several major projects, including the Euclid telescope, SPHEREx mission, and the Vera C. Rubin observatory, are preparing to test this hypothesis. While the Big Crunch scenario remains one of several possible futures for the universe, it has already sparked renewed debate among physicists worldwide.
