Stephen Hawking’s theory means that the entire universe will evaporate

• Stephen Hawking predicted in 1974 that black holes die by evaporation.
• But experts thought the extreme gravitational environments of black holes were unique to his theory.
• A new study suggests that this Hawking radiation, which kills black holes, may kill all others.

The ultimate fate of our universe is unknown. But that hasn’t stopped astronomers from trying to figure it out.

The most recent idea of ​​how our universe will end is that it will simply evaporate. That’s right, everything happens EvaporateA new one study Physical Review Letters published in the journal recommends

Scientists at Radboud University investigated Stephen Hawking’s theory of how black holes die by a phenomenon now popularly known as Hawking radiation, which the theoretical physicist predicted in 1974.

According to quantum physics theory and Einstein’s theory of gravity, particles spontaneously form and annihilate under the extreme gravitational environment located at the mouths of black holes, or event horizons.

Hawking calculated that sometimes these particles get trapped behind the event horizon, but others escape outward in the form of Hawking radiation. Over time, enough particles are completely removed The black hole evaporates.

Hawking radiation observed around a black hole In our universe, confirming the predictions of hidden geniuses. Until now, black holes were the only places experts looked for it.

But this new study could change that.

„Objects without an event horizon, such as the remnants of dead stars and other massive objects in the universe, also have this type of radiation,” said study author Heino Falke. Report On Friday. „And, after a very long time, everything in the universe will eventually evaporate, just like black holes.”

In the study, scientists propose that you don’t need extreme gravitational conditions for Hawking radiation to exist.

Conversely, anything with mass that distorts the fabric of space-time can trigger this radiation.

„We show that the curvature of spacetime beyond the black hole plays a major role in generating the radiation,” study co-author Walter van Suijlekom said in the statement.

Scientists’ calculations require additional analysis and experimental and observational evidence to confirm their predictions.

If their theory is true, there is nothing to worry about in the future.

It picks up black holes Longer than the age of the universe Volatile, the researchers estimate. Although it is not clear how long it will take to make something like a star, our universe will likely remain the same for the foreseeable future.