& # 39; The Big Rip: & # 39; Here's what it could mean if the universe is torn apart

After introducing his theory of general relativity in 1915 and overthrowing the scientific world, Albert Einstein was not happy. According to the calculations of his theory, the universe had to be constantly expanding or contracting, but neither of them was using Einstein. To "solve" this problem, he published in 1917 an article proposing the existence of a "cosmological constant", a force that would keep the boundaries of the universe static and unchanging. After being denied by Edwin Hubble, who discovered that the universe was booming, Einstein called it his "biggest mistake," but even Einstein could not count on what astronomers would discover in 1998 and astrophysicists: Acceleration .

The driving force of this expansion has long been proposed as dark energy, estimated at about 68% of all energy in the universe. What is strange about black energy, is that even if it causes the expansion of the limits of the universe, matter, radiation and other forms energy is diluted, the dark energy itself does not seem diluted. through the universe seems to remain constant. It's an interesting phenomenon, because if the dark energy is really constant, then the universe will continue to grow indefinitely. If this is not constant, one of the three scenarios will occur: 1) the universe will stop expanding, 2) the universe will start to contract and s & # 39; Collapse on itself (the so-called "Big Crunch"), or 3) the universe will continue to expand at a faster and faster pace, until everything tears, ending with a "Big Rip".

Currently, the expansion of the universe is already increasing the distances between galaxies, which has led scientists to suggest that any advanced civilization will eventually have to start collecting stars or begin mass migration towards clusters of galaxies to avoid being stuck in a vacuum. However, if the dark energy pours gasoline on the rate of expansion, then all life (and matter) is doomed: the universe will continue to stretch until it reaches the end of its life cycle. To tear the galaxies, then the solar systems, then the planets up to the atoms, until the space-time itself is torn apart.

However, if it is our fate, it will not come for a moment. According to Ethan Siegel, a columnist for Forbes: "If the Universe ends with a Big Rip, it's a fate that will only reach us in 80 billion years at the earliest: nearly six times the current age of the Universe.The unbinding of galaxies from each other, the first noticeable step on the way to a Big Rip, will not occur for tens of billions of dollars. years, even in the most pessimistic viable scenario. "

80 billion years? It is a very good course for a universe

Explore the other wonders of our universe by opening this infographic:

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