Scientists just predicted when the universe will end—and it’s shockingly sooner than we thought
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If you’ve ever gazed up at the night sky and wondered how long the universe will keep spinning its cosmic dance, you’re not alone.
For centuries, philosophers, astronomers, and everyday stargazers alike have pondered the fate of everything we know.
Now, thanks to a groundbreaking new study, scientists have a fresh—and surprisingly “soon”—answer to the ultimate question: When will the universe end?
The Universe’s Expiration Date: Sooner Than We Thought
A team of researchers from Radboud University in the Netherlands has just shaken up the world of cosmology.
Their calculations suggest that the universe will go dark in about one quinvigintillion years—that’s a 1 followed by 78 zeros.
If you’re trying to wrap your head around that number, don’t worry: it’s still so far in the future that it makes the age of the pyramids look like yesterday’s news.
But here’s the kicker: this is much sooner than previous estimates, which put the universe’s end at a mind-boggling 10 to the power of 1,100 years (that’s a 1 followed by 1,100 zeros).
In cosmic terms, the new prediction is like moving the doomsday clock from “forever” to “almost forever.”
What’s Actually Going to Happen?
To understand the universe’s fate, we need to talk about stars—specifically, the ones that are already “dead.”
When stars like our sun run out of fuel, they don’t just disappear. Instead, they become white dwarfs or, if they’re massive enough, neutron stars.
These stellar remnants are incredibly dense and can last for unimaginable lengths of time.
But according to the new research, even these cosmic leftovers aren’t immortal.
Over time, they’ll slowly evaporate, thanks to a process similar to what happens to black holes—a phenomenon known as Hawking radiation.
A Quick Science Detour: What Is Hawking Radiation?
Back in 1975, the legendary physicist Stephen Hawking proposed that black holes aren’t the eternal prisons we once thought.
Instead, they can slowly lose mass and energy by emitting tiny particles—a process now called Hawking radiation. Over eons, this causes black holes to shrink and eventually vanish.
The new study takes this idea a step further. The researchers argue that not just black holes, but all objects with strong gravitational fields—like neutron stars and white dwarfs—can evaporate in a similar way.
This slow “leak” of energy sets a hard limit on how long matter can survive in the universe.
Why the New Timeline?
Previous estimates for the universe’s lifespan didn’t factor in Hawking radiation for anything except black holes.
By including neutron stars and white dwarfs in their calculations, the Radboud team found that the universe’s “last light” will fade much sooner than we thought.
As these final stars evaporate, the universe will become a cold, dark, and empty place—a far cry from the vibrant, star-filled cosmos we know today.
Should You Be Worried?
Let’s put things in perspective: one quinvigintillion years is still so long that it’s almost impossible to comprehend. For comparison, the universe is currently about 13.8 billion years old—a mere blink compared to its projected lifespan.
Humanity, and even the Earth itself, will be long gone before the last star flickers out.
“By asking these kinds of questions and looking at extreme cases, we want to better understand the theory, and perhaps one day, we will unravel the mystery of Hawking radiation,” said co-author Walter van Suijlekom, professor of mathematics at Radboud University.
What do you think about the universe’s new “expiration date”? Does it change how you see the night sky? Have you ever wondered about the fate of the cosmos? Share your thoughts, questions, or favorite stargazing memories in the comments below!
For centuries, philosophers, astronomers, and everyday stargazers alike have pondered the fate of everything we know.
Now, thanks to a groundbreaking new study, scientists have a fresh—and surprisingly “soon”—answer to the ultimate question: When will the universe end?
The Universe’s Expiration Date: Sooner Than We Thought
A team of researchers from Radboud University in the Netherlands has just shaken up the world of cosmology.
Their calculations suggest that the universe will go dark in about one quinvigintillion years—that’s a 1 followed by 78 zeros.
If you’re trying to wrap your head around that number, don’t worry: it’s still so far in the future that it makes the age of the pyramids look like yesterday’s news.
But here’s the kicker: this is much sooner than previous estimates, which put the universe’s end at a mind-boggling 10 to the power of 1,100 years (that’s a 1 followed by 1,100 zeros).
Scientists from Radboud University in the Netherlands have determined the universe will end in one quinvigintillion years, which is much sooner than earlier predictions. Image source: Greg Rakozy / Unsplash.
In cosmic terms, the new prediction is like moving the doomsday clock from “forever” to “almost forever.”
What’s Actually Going to Happen?
To understand the universe’s fate, we need to talk about stars—specifically, the ones that are already “dead.”
When stars like our sun run out of fuel, they don’t just disappear. Instead, they become white dwarfs or, if they’re massive enough, neutron stars.
These stellar remnants are incredibly dense and can last for unimaginable lengths of time.
But according to the new research, even these cosmic leftovers aren’t immortal.
Over time, they’ll slowly evaporate, thanks to a process similar to what happens to black holes—a phenomenon known as Hawking radiation.
A Quick Science Detour: What Is Hawking Radiation?
Back in 1975, the legendary physicist Stephen Hawking proposed that black holes aren’t the eternal prisons we once thought.
Instead, they can slowly lose mass and energy by emitting tiny particles—a process now called Hawking radiation. Over eons, this causes black holes to shrink and eventually vanish.
The new study takes this idea a step further. The researchers argue that not just black holes, but all objects with strong gravitational fields—like neutron stars and white dwarfs—can evaporate in a similar way.
This slow “leak” of energy sets a hard limit on how long matter can survive in the universe.
Why the New Timeline?
Previous estimates for the universe’s lifespan didn’t factor in Hawking radiation for anything except black holes.
By including neutron stars and white dwarfs in their calculations, the Radboud team found that the universe’s “last light” will fade much sooner than we thought.
As these final stars evaporate, the universe will become a cold, dark, and empty place—a far cry from the vibrant, star-filled cosmos we know today.
Should You Be Worried?
Let’s put things in perspective: one quinvigintillion years is still so long that it’s almost impossible to comprehend. For comparison, the universe is currently about 13.8 billion years old—a mere blink compared to its projected lifespan.
Humanity, and even the Earth itself, will be long gone before the last star flickers out.
“By asking these kinds of questions and looking at extreme cases, we want to better understand the theory, and perhaps one day, we will unravel the mystery of Hawking radiation,” said co-author Walter van Suijlekom, professor of mathematics at Radboud University.
What do you think about the universe’s new “expiration date”? Does it change how you see the night sky? Have you ever wondered about the fate of the cosmos? Share your thoughts, questions, or favorite stargazing memories in the comments below!
