Our universe has a very long history of 13.8 billion years and counting..., but have you ever wondered how the universe would end. Well, to understand this we must first understand the two main forces and how they play out in the universe: Dark energy and Gravitational force. Dark energy is intrinsic to empty space and primarily drives the expansion of the universe. Gravity on the other hand, as we know it, is the attractive force between bodies of mass. It can be thought of as counteracting the effect that Dark energy has on the universe. This concept is intimately linked with the end of the universe. There are four possible ends to the universe:
1. Big Freeze: In this scenario, the 'expanding force' of the dark energy just overcomes the attractive force of gravity. Stars would soon burn out since they aren't able to hold on to their gaseous constituents. Galaxies would soon be 'diluted' as their constituents would slowly recede away from each other. The universe would soon reach a temperature close to absolute zero signalling the 'Heat death' of the universe.
2. Big Rip: In such a possibility, the 'force' of dark energy gets so strong that it starts tearing away gravitational fields. Everything up to atoms would be pulled apart as the universe expands at a very high ever-increasing rate. All fundamental forces would soon cease to exist, eventually 'tearing' apart from the universe into shreds!
3. Big Crunch: This theory opposes the Big Rip Theory. It says that gravity will overcome the force of dark energy and everything would soon start to coalesce into one super-dense body of infinite mass. Atoms would collapse onto themselves and the universe would be reduced into a single small mass - a singularity!
4. Big Bounce: This theory predicts what might happen after the Big Crunch. It outlines how the singularity that remains after the big crunch might explode in another Big Bang, giving birth to a fresh universe. Interestingly, since each bounce wipes the 'universe's memory' we don't know if several bounces have already happened. Just think about it. Doesn't that blow your mind?!
Based on the current constituents and shape of the universe, cosmologists believe that the universe might be headed for the Big Freeze, but don't worry! That's a long way from now. This universe is still a very young adult!
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