For a long time, scientists thought the universe would slowly fade away over an unimaginably long period — but new calculations suggest it might end far earlier than previously believed, by as much as 10¹⁰²² years.
This shift comes from theories about the Higgs field, a force that gives particles mass, which may be less stable than assumed and could one day collapse in a process called vacuum decay.
If that happens, a tiny quantum event could spark a chain reaction at light speed, silently wiping out galaxies, stars, and all matter in its path.
While this scenario is still projected to unfold over quadrillions of years, it challenges our basic assumptions about the permanence of the universe and reminds us how fragile even vast systems can be.
In the face of such possibilities, the time we do have — and how we use it — takes on a deeper significance.
