HOW WILL OUR UNIVERSE END?

The widely known concept of the Big Bang has captured our minds, but the conclusion of the famous TV series named after this cosmic event has left many mourning. However, let us return to the scientific setting and investigate the less-discussed concept of the Big Crunch. While the beginning of the universe is often linked with a massive burst of energy, the various ways in which it may end stimulate other theories, including the Big Freeze and the Big Rip. The prevailing theory, however, is the Big Crunch.

The origins of the Big Crunch Theory can be traced back to Einstein's general theory of relativity. In the grand scheme of things, events tend to ebb and flow, with a reversal likely to occur after reaching an extreme. If the Big Bang began the expansion of the universe, the Big Crunch forecasts a future contraction. When the cosmos reaches its maximum size, which is determined by its energy content, it is expected to collapse inward, eventually becoming a huge black hole that contains all everything. This phenomenon, which occurs in a singularity of enormous proportions, is known as the "Big Crunch."

This may not be encouraging news for those interested in living a long life. The mathematical models show that the Big Crunch is plausible, if not probable. However, a fundamental challenge remains for scientists dedicated to solving the secrets of the universe: our imperfect understanding of the cosmos. The expansion of the universe is influenced by two fundamental factors: density and outward momentum. Gravity, which is defined by density, tends to pull everything toward a central point, making the Big Crunch appear to be unavoidable.

Observations of the universe, however, reveal a complexity that goes beyond simple gravitational forces. The outer regions are expanding faster than planned, and galaxies are moving apart. This cosmic ballet is influenced by the enigmatic component known as dark energy. Depending on how prevalent it is, the universe may continue to expand eternally, resulting in a freeze, or it may experience a gravitational pull, culminating in the feared Big Crunch.

The confusing nature of dark energy adds to the enigma. Some scientists believe its abundance could herald the start of the Big Crunch, while others believe the observed increasing rates of expansion are the universe's final gasp before contraction begins, which could happen within tens of billions of years.

Assuming there is insufficient dark energy for infinite expansion, the Big Crunch would occur gradually. The gravitational forces between galaxies would intensify, leading to a cosmic climax in about a hundred billion years. Temperatures would skyrocket, stars would burst, and matter would crumble into atoms. Chaos would reign at the final phases of the universe's contraction into a limited place, twisting space-time to the point of breaking into droplets, rendering conventional ideas of time, distance, and direction useless.

No living organism would survive in this cataclysmic event, raising issues about the universe's potential cyclical nature. Perhaps this cosmic dance of expansion and constriction has been repeated, with each repetition spawning new universes. For the time being, the cosmos' ultimate fate remains unknown, a puzzle awaiting the final pieces from the unfolding chapters of cosmic history.

As we consider the probable fate of our universe, which is veiled in the mystery of dark energy and the interplay of cosmic forces, we must realize the inherent limitations of our comprehension. The Big Crunch remains a feasible ending, but the complexities of dark energy and the universe's expansion call our assumptions into question.

The climax of this cosmic story is undetermined, and the ending may be beyond our grasp. In the face of the great unknown, the possibility of a Big Crunch, with its cataclysmic unraveling of space and time, fills us with wonder and humility.