Latest news with #DES
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Our universe might have an expiry date and it's sooner than we thought
The universe may not be heading for an eternal stretch into emptiness, as once assumed. According to new findings from two of the largest astronomical surveys — the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) — the mysterious force known as dark energy could be changing. That shift, if real, has serious consequences. Instead of expanding forever, the universe might one day contract. Scientists now believe a complete reversal could start within 10 billion years, ending in a collapse known as the Big Crunch. These conclusions come from a new theoretical study, currently in preprint and awaiting peer review, that presents a bold reinterpretation of how cosmic forces years, physicists assumed dark energy was steady and uniform, based on a simple number called the cosmological constant in Einstein's general relativity. But the latest analysis challenges that view. The study, reported by introduces two components behind dark energy: the cosmological constant and a particle known as the axion. Axions are hypothetical ultralight particles that rarely interact with matter. Yet, they could fill the universe and account for much of its current accelerated expansion. The cosmological constant, by contrast, is a fixed energy value in empty space. But in this model, it's not positive. It's team behind the research explained their reasoning clearly. 'We are living in a temporary period of accelerated expansion,' they wrote. 'It is heavily driven by the axion field.'Right now, axions are doing most of the work in keeping the universe expanding. But over time, these particles are expected to lose their influence. Once they fade, the negative cosmological constant will begin to dominate. This shift would decelerate the universe's expansion could not only stop but happens next? According to the model, gravity would begin to pull everything back in. Galaxies would start to draw closer, merge, and collapse into each other. Temperatures would rise. Space would grow smaller, hotter, and the final act, all matter and energy would compress into a single point — a singularity. This collapse, termed the Big Crunch, is effectively the reverse of the Big Bang. The study predicts the beginning of this reversal could occur in 10 billion years. The contraction would then take another 10 billion years to complete. The full lifespan of the universe, under this model, would be about 33.3 billion already 13.8 billion years into that DES and DESI surveys have mapped millions of galaxies to measure how the universe expands over time. These surveys are central to modern cosmology, offering one of the most detailed views of the universe's large-scale recently, all observations supported the idea that dark energy was constant. But the new data show signs that it might be insight gave rise to the axion-dark energy model, or aDE, a theoretical framework that incorporates both axions and a changing cosmological explained by 'One of the most striking findings in the new study is the possibility that the cosmological constant — which reflects the energy density of space itself — may be negative.'The study's authors are careful not to overstate their findings. The model, while compelling, is still under review and not confirmed.'These are preliminary findings,' the researchers acknowledged. They stress that deeper space surveys and next-generation telescopes will be crucial for testing whether dark energy really does evolve with the idea is already sparking serious debate among physicists. If it holds, it would force scientists to rethink the universe's timeline — and its theories go further. They suggest the Big Crunch might not be the absolute that final singularity could trigger another Big Bang. A fresh cycle. A new universe. Though these ideas remain speculative, they reflect just how much we still don't understand about the nature of now, the only certainty is that the universe might be less predictable than once believed. As astronomers dig deeper into the skies, the answers we get may continue to surprise us.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Our universe might have an expiry date and it's sooner than we thought
What the new model proposes Live Events Big Crunch: The opposite of the Big Bang The evidence behind the claim Still just a theory, for now (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The universe may not be heading for an eternal stretch into emptiness, as once assumed. According to new findings from two of the largest astronomical surveys — the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) — the mysterious force known as dark energy could be shift, if real, has serious consequences. Instead of expanding forever, the universe might one day contract. Scientists now believe a complete reversal could start within 10 billion years, ending in a collapse known as the Big Crunch These conclusions come from a new theoretical study, currently in preprint and awaiting peer review, that presents a bold reinterpretation of how cosmic forces years, physicists assumed dark energy was steady and uniform, based on a simple number called the cosmological constant in Einstein's general relativity. But the latest analysis challenges that study, reported by introduces two components behind dark energy: the cosmological constant and a particle known as the axion. Axions are hypothetical ultralight particles that rarely interact with matter. Yet, they could fill the universe and account for much of its current accelerated cosmological constant, by contrast, is a fixed energy value in empty space. But in this model, it's not positive. It's team behind the research explained their reasoning clearly. 'We are living in a temporary period of accelerated expansion,' they wrote. 'It is heavily driven by the axion field.'Right now, axions are doing most of the work in keeping the universe expanding. But over time, these particles are expected to lose their influence. Once they fade, the negative cosmological constant will begin to dominate. This shift would decelerate the universe's expansion could not only stop but happens next? According to the model, gravity would begin to pull everything back in. Galaxies would start to draw closer, merge, and collapse into each other. Temperatures would rise. Space would grow smaller, hotter, and the final act, all matter and energy would compress into a single point — a collapse, termed the Big Crunch, is effectively the reverse of the Big Bang The study predicts the beginning of this reversal could occur in 10 billion years. The contraction would then take another 10 billion years to complete. The full lifespan of the universe, under this model, would be about 33.3 billion already 13.8 billion years into that DES and DESI surveys have mapped millions of galaxies to measure how the universe expands over time. These surveys are central to modern cosmology, offering one of the most detailed views of the universe's large-scale recently, all observations supported the idea that dark energy was constant. But the new data show signs that it might be insight gave rise to the axion-dark energy model, or aDE, a theoretical framework that incorporates both axions and a changing cosmological explained by 'One of the most striking findings in the new study is the possibility that the cosmological constant — which reflects the energy density of space itself — may be negative.'The study's authors are careful not to overstate their findings. The model, while compelling, is still under review and not confirmed.'These are preliminary findings,' the researchers acknowledged. They stress that deeper space surveys and next-generation telescopes will be crucial for testing whether dark energy really does evolve with the idea is already sparking serious debate among physicists. If it holds, it would force scientists to rethink the universe's timeline — and its theories go further. They suggest the Big Crunch might not be the absolute that final singularity could trigger another Big Bang. A fresh cycle. A new universe. Though these ideas remain speculative, they reflect just how much we still don't understand about the nature of now, the only certainty is that the universe might be less predictable than once believed. As astronomers dig deeper into the skies, the answers we get may continue to surprise us.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Science
- Indian Express
Is the universe halfway to its end? New theory predicts a Big Crunch in 33 billion years
Is the end of the universe closer than we imagined? A new theory, inspired by the latest data from major sky surveys suggests that our cosmos might stop expanding in about 10 billion years and then begin collapsing, all the way into a final end just 33 billion years from now. That might sound far off, but in cosmic terms, it's uncomfortably soon. Over the past year, astronomers working with the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) have spotted something intriguing: dark energy, the mysterious force causing the universe to expand faster and faster – might not be a constant after all. Instead, it could be changing over time. And if that's true, it's a big deal. It would challenge one of the core assumptions of modern physics: that dark energy is a stable, unchanging force. Right now, the leading model of dark energy is the cosmological constant, a number Einstein introduced in his equations over a century ago. But the new observations suggest that this constant might not be enough to explain what's really going on. A fresh, not-yet-peer-reviewed paper (The Lifespan of our Universe) from June proposes a more complex idea- that dark energy is made up of two components. The first is an axion- a strange, hypothetical particle so light and elusive that it hardly ever interacts with anything. Imagine these axions as a gentle energy mist, quietly stretching across the universe, fueling its current accelerated expansion. The second is the cosmological constant, but in this model, it's negative. Unlike a positive constant that pushes space outward, a negative one would pull it back. Right now, the axions are doing most of the expanding work. But as time passes, the axions are expected to fade. And when they do, the negative cosmological constant will start to dominate- slowing down the expansion, then reversing it. This would kickstart a dramatic new phase- the Big Crunch. Galaxies would crash into each other. Space would shrink. The universe would heat up and grow denser, spiraling into a final singularity, the opposite of the Big Bang. According to the theorists, the 'beginning of the end' will start in about 10 billion years, which is less than the current age of the universe. After that, it'll take another 10 billion years for everything to collapse. The universe, then, would have a total lifetime of around 33 billion years- meaning it's already past the halfway mark. Of course, this theory is still highly DES and DESI findings are early results. They'll need to be confirmed by future observations. And even if the cosmological constant turns out to be inaccurate, it doesn't automatically prove this two-part axion model is right. Still, it opens the door to new questions about the ultimate fate of everything we know. Until then, the universe keeps expanding—and we keep watching the skies.s (This article has been curated by Kaashvi Khubyani, who is an intern with The Indian Express.)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Astronomers reveal a chilling countdown to the end of the universe
For decades, scientists believed the universe would expand forever, driven endlessly outward by a mysterious force known as dark energy. But a new study has upended that view with a provocative idea: the cosmos may one day stop expanding and instead collapse in on itself in a cataclysmic event called the 'Big Crunch.' According to the research, which is currently in preprint and awaiting peer review, this reversal could happen in about 20 billion years. Based on new models and fresh astronomical data, scientists are rethinking the fate of everything we know. The universe may not expand forever The traditional model of the universe's fate was built on the assumption that dark energy is constant and positive, a force pushing galaxies apart faster over time. But researchers analysing data from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) found evidence that dark energy might not be constant after all. Instead, it could vary over time, as proposed by a new theoretical framework called the axion-dark energy (aDE) model. One of the most striking findings in the new study is the possibility that the cosmological constant — which reflects the energy density of space itself — may be negative. If true, this would mean that gravity could eventually overpower expansion. Over time, this shift would cause the universe's growth to slow, stop, and then reverse into a contraction phase. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Wonorejo: Unsold Sofas May Be at Bargain Prices (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo What is the Big Crunch If contraction occurs, all matter and energy could eventually be compressed into a single, dense point — an event known as the Big Crunch . This would be the reverse of the Big Bang . According to the aDE model, the total lifespan of the universe would be about 33.3 billion years, and we are already 13.8 billion years into that span. That leaves approximately 20 billion years before the predicted collapse. Not a final verdict yet Although the findings are significant, scientists caution that this new model is not confirmed. It is based on observational trends and evolving theoretical physics. Further investigation using next-generation telescopes and deeper space surveys will be needed to determine whether dark energy truly changes over time and whether a cosmic collapse is on the horizon. Is the end really the end Even if the Big Crunch occurs, it might not mark the permanent end of everything. Some theories propose that a collapsing universe could eventually lead to a rebirth — a new Big Bang triggering a fresh universe cycle. While these ideas remain speculative, the study has opened a bold new chapter in understanding how — and when — our universe might end.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
When Will Universe Die? New dark energy data makes big bombshell revelations. Here's complete truth
When Will Universe Die? What New Data Says Proposed Model of Dark Energy Live Events What Happens as Axions Weaken Could the Universe Collapse? When Will Universe Die? A Shift in Cosmic Thinking FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Scientists have long believed the universe would continue expanding forever. However, new findings challenge this view. Recent data from two key cosmic surveys suggest dark energy may not be constant. This could eventually lead to a cosmic collapse known as the 'Big Crunch.' The future of the universe is now open to new from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) collected detailed observations of galaxies across the universe. This data shows that the force responsible for cosmic expansion, called dark energy, may not behave in a constant energy has been assumed to follow the cosmological constant, a fixed value based on Einstein's theory of general relativity. But new results suggest this model might be incomplete or incorrect.A recent study, released in June and now awaiting peer review, offers a new model. It proposes that dark energy includes two parts: the axion and the cosmological This is a hypothetical ultralight particle. It rarely interacts with matter but can influence the universe on large constant: This is a number in Einstein's equations. It is linked to the energy density of space now believe that the current acceleration of the universe may be mostly due to the axion, rather than the cosmological constant time, the axion field may lose its strength. Once this happens, the cosmological constant, which is negative in this new model, could a positive cosmological constant, which speeds up expansion, a negative one slows it down. This could reverse the expansion process, according to the this model is correct, the universe's expansion may stop. Then, the universe would start to contract. This would lead to a future collapse phase called the 'Big Crunch.'In this stage, galaxies would move closer, collide, and merge. The universe would become smaller, hotter, and denser. All cosmic structures could break to the researchers, this change could begin in about 10 billion years. That is much sooner than earlier predictions which assumed endless 10 billion years after that could see the universe collapsing completely. The full lifespan of the universe, according to this theory, could be around 33 billion idea that dark energy changes over time introduces major questions. If proven, this could shift the foundation of modern now, the findings are under review. But they open the door to future studies that may better explain how the universe will Big Crunch is a theory where the universe stops expanding and begins contracting until it collapses into a dense, hot universe may start to collapse in about 10 billion years and fully collapse in another 10 billion, totalling about 33 billion years of cosmic life.
