Possible fates of the Universe,computer illustration. Astrophysicists envisage four possible fates for the Universe in the distant future (clockwise from top left): closed,flat,open low-density and open high-density. In these schematics the Universe is represented as a 2-dimensional surface opening out from a point,somewhat like a funnel. The green line represents where we are now. In a closed universe,with positive curvature,it will collapse in an infinitely hot,dense singularity in a reverse of the Big Bang (‘Big Crunch’ scenario). In a flat scenario,the universe expands forever,asymptotically,slowing down but never quite stopping. And in an open universe,the universe expands forever accelerating as it does. If the density is higher than a critical value,the future acceleration will cause it to tear itself apart in what has been called the ‘Big Rip’ | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Garlick, Mark |
Taille de l’image : | 4670 px × 4539 px |
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