So last week's History Channel "Universe" show talked about the universe in general. Being only an amateur I had not heard of the Big Rip theory end to our universe, last I heard scientists were settling in on an endless expanding and cooling universe.

How much traction does this new theory have these days?

Thanks

-ed

It's actually losing traction. It was first theorized after astronomers discovered dark energy. Here's the question: is dark energy accelerating? If so, then eventually the expansive force will get stronger and stronger, eventually overcoming gravity inside galaxies, tearing solar systems apart, and eventually, even molecules and atoms.

Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be accelerating. It's a constant force that's accelerating the expansion of the Universe, but it isn't actually increasing.

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Fraser Cain
Publisher
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