New research from three Dutch scientists suggests that the universe may reach its ultimate end much sooner than previously believed.
Their calculations, based on a process similar to Hawking radiation, reveal that the last remaining stars and objects in the universe could evaporate within 10⁷⁸ years—a drastic reduction from the previously estimated 10¹¹⁰⁰ years.
The study, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, is the work of black hole expert Heino Falcke, quantum physicist Michael Wondrak, and mathematician Walter van Suijlekom, all from Radboud University in the Netherlands.
It builds upon a 2023 paper by the same trio, where they proposed that not only black holes but also neutron stars and other dense objects can decay through a mechanism akin to Hawking radiation.
A faster fade to darkness
In the 1970s, physicist Stephen Hawking theorized that black holes are not completely closed systems—particles and radiation can escape from their surface through a phenomenon now known as Hawking radiation. This discovery contradicted Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, which suggested that black holes could only grow.
Falcke and his team expanded on Hawking’s concept, demonstrating that other cosmic objects, like neutron stars and white dwarfs, are also subject to this form of evaporation. Their calculations indicate that white dwarfs, which were once thought to last 10¹¹⁰⁰ years, would actually dissolve in just 10⁷⁸ years through Hawking-like radiation. This makes the end of the universe seem significantly closer—though still incredibly distant on human timescales.
The researchers calculated the evaporation times for ten different cosmic objects. Astonishingly, they found that neutron stars and black holes take about the same amount of time—10⁶⁷ years—to evaporate.
This was unexpected, given that black holes have a much stronger gravitational field. According to co-author Michael Wondrak, this anomaly occurs because black holes reabsorb some of their own radiation, slowing the evaporation process.
In a playful twist, the scientists also calculated how long it would take for everyday objects like the Moon and even a human body to evaporate through Hawking-like radiation. Both would take around 10⁹⁰ years to completely dissolve.
The researchers noted, however, that many other processes would cause their disappearance far sooner.
Mathematician Walter van Suijlekom praised the research as a perfect example of how combining astrophysics, quantum physics, and mathematics can lead to groundbreaking insights. “By exploring these extreme scenarios, we can deepen our understanding of the universe and, one day, perhaps solve the mystery of Hawking radiation,” he said.
Though the idea of the universe ending sooner than thought is startling, the timescale is still mind-bogglingly far away. For now, humanity has nothing to fear—but the findings push the boundaries of how we understand the cosmos and its ultimate fate.
Source: KSR.
