Will the universe collapse instead of continuing to expand?

Universe - Image 1.

The vast universe we live in may not expand indefinitely as science has believed for decades - Illustration by AI

Since the Big Bang more than 13.8 billion years ago, our universe has been continuously expanding, and the rate of expansion is accelerating. Scientists have long believed that this increased speed is due to a mysterious force called "dark energy".

However, new data from the international research project called Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA) has just revealed a shocking possibility: the pull of dark energy may be weakening over time, and the universe could end in a 'big crash,' the complete opposite of the original 'Big Bang.'

Does the universe not expand forever?

According to the most popular cosmological model currently in use, Lambda-CDM (Lambda Cold Dark Matter), dark energy is assumed to be constant over time. In other words, its power to expand the universe remains the same as when the universe was first created.

However, by creating the largest 3D map ever made of the universe and tracking the effects of dark energy over more than 11 billion years of history, the DESI research team has discovered that the picture may be far more complex, according to skyatnightmagazine.com.

When comparing this new data to previous observations, including light from supernova explosions and cosmic microwave background radiation (a remnant from the Big Bang), scientists found evidence that the pull of dark energy is weakening.

The future of the universe: "Freezing" or "collapse"?

The fate of the entire universe very likely depends on the true nature of dark energy.

If dark energy were a cosmic constant (unchanging over time), the universe would continue to expand indefinitely and end in a "cold death," often called the Big Freeze: where galaxies drift further apart, matter thins out, and energy is depleted like a thin layer of butter spread on a slice of cake that's too big.

But if dark energy changes over time as DESI is assuming, then a more terrifying scenario is the Big Crunch, a "great collapse" that could occur. In that case, instead of expanding, the universe would reverse and contract, eventually collapsing to a singularity like the one before the Big Bang.

"Whatever dark energy actually is, it will undoubtedly shape the future of the universe. It's incredible that with just telescopes on Earth, we can find answers to one of humanity's biggest questions," said Michael Levi, director of the DESI project at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA).

A revolution in cosmology

According to astronomer Chris Lintott, if the results from DESI continue to be confirmed, this will be a major breakthrough.

Because if dark energy were truly a constant, cosmology might be at a standstill in understanding its nature. But if it changes over time, that opens a new era of research, and scientists could refute or confirm current hypotheses, and especially: predict the future of the entire universe.

"DESI could help us determine whether the universe will disintegrate in cold, eternal solitude or collapse violently back to its starting point," Lintott emphasized.

Despite increasingly advanced observational technology, the universe still holds many unexplained mysteries. Each new discovery brings new questions.

Continuing to study, observe, and gain a deeper understanding of physical phenomena in the universe is not just a matter for scientists, but also a journey for all of humanity on the path to discovering the profound nature of the world around us.

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MINH HAI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vu-tru-se-sup-do-thay-vi-tiep-tiep-gian-no-20250610214519471.htm