Will The Universe Ever Stop Expanding?
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23 May 2024
Scientists debate what the future of the cosmos looks like and whether space will ever stop getting bigger and bigger
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The universe is constantly expanding, with galaxies moving away from us at an increasing rate
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This expansion is a result of the big bang, which started the spread of space
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Initially, scientists believed the universe's expansion would slow due to gravitational attraction between matter
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However, in 1998, astronomers discovered that the expansion of the universe is accelerating
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The acceleration is attributed to dark energy, a mysterious force that permeates the universe's vacuum
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Dark energy exerts a repulsive force, pushing everything apart and accelerating cosmic expansion
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The Hubble constant measures the current expansion rate, calculated using supernovae and variable stars
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Different methods of calculating the Hubble constant have led to a discrepancy called the "Hubble tension"
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This tension suggests there may be unknown physics affecting our understanding of the universe's expansion
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If current models are correct, the universe will experience a "big freeze," becoming dark and cold
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