For years, science has said that one day the universe will come to an end. Many scientists have done deep research to understand how this might happen. Now, a new study has made a shocking prediction about when the final moment of the universe might arrive.
How Long Until the Universe Dies?
According to the research, the universe will end when the last stars go dark and even black holes, neutron stars, and white dwarfs disappear. Scientists estimate this will happen in 1 quinvigintillion years — that’s the number 1 followed by 78 zeros.
Will Black Holes Last Forever? Maybe Not
Earlier, it was believed that black holes would live forever. But in 1974, famous physicist Stephen Hawking introduced the idea of Hawking radiation, which says black holes slowly lose mass and vanish over time.
Now, researchers like Professor Heino Falcke from Radboud University in the Netherlands believe that other massive space objects like neutron stars and white dwarfs might also slowly disappear just like black holes.
What Will Happen to All Stars and Galaxies?
The study suggests that neutron stars might fade out after 10⁶⁸ years, while cold white dwarfs could last as long as 10⁷⁸ years. Some supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies may survive up to 10⁹⁶ years.
By that time, no new stars will be forming, and the universe will become a dark, cold place with no light or energy — a complete cosmic death.
Everything Will Drift Apart
In around 150 to 200 billion years, the universe will expand so much that other galaxies will no longer be visible. Then, around 17 trillion years from now, the last stars will stop shining.
Even our Sun won’t survive forever — scientists predict it will expand so much in about 5 billion years that it might swallow Earth. So, our solar system will end long before the universe itself does.
Can It End Sooner? Maybe
Some researchers believe if proton decay (a theory that protons might break down over time) turns out to be true, the universe could end sooner. But this is still being studied and there’s no strong proof yet.
One Day, Everything Will End
Scientists say this study only offers an estimated timeline based on current understanding. It doesn’t guarantee exactly how or when everything will end. But one thing is clear — nothing in the universe will last forever.