Stephen Hawking was right: scientists slash the “death date” of the universe and beat previous estimates

The universe is a marvel filled with mysteries that astronomers and scientists are little my little unlocking. However, all good things must come to an end, and according to a trio of researchers using calculations based on Hawking radiation that will come sooner than previously thought for our universe.

But no need to panic. Instead of ending around 10 to the power of 1,100 years from now, it will happen roughly 10 to the power of 78 years, or a one followed by 78 zeros. That’s about 69 more zeros than life on Earth has left.

Type of radiation named after physicist Stephen Hawking predicts universe’s demise

The scientists from Radboud University in the Netherlands used white dwarves, the final remnants of stars like our Sun that don’t become neutron stars or black holes, to make their calculations based on Hawking radiation. This form of radiation is named after famed physicist Stephen Hawking, who postulated that black holes slowly dissolve as they leak radiation.

The researchers extended this “evaporation time” to white dwarves, the most durable and longest-lasting celestial bodies, to make their theoretical “death date” of the universe.

“The final end of the universe is coming much sooner than expected but fortunately it still takes a very long time,” lead author Heino Falcke told CBS/AFP.

“By asking these kinds of questions and looking at extreme cases, we want to better understand the theory,” explained co-author Walter van Suijlekom. “And perhaps one day, we can unravel the mystery of Hawking radiation.”

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