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Second Big Bang Could End the Universe

posted by martyb on Thursday April 05 2018, @06:55PM   
from the banged-out dept.

takyon writes:

A 2nd 'Big Bang' could end our universe in an instant — and it's all because of a tiny particle that controls the laws of physics

Our universe may end the same way it was created: with a big, sudden bang. That's according to new research from a group of Harvard physicists, who found that the destabilization of the Higgs boson — a tiny quantum particle that gives other particles mass — could lead to an explosion of energy that would consume everything in the known universe and upend the laws of physics and chemistry.

As part of their study, published last month in the journal Physical Review D [open, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.97.056006] [DX], the researchers calculated when our universe could end. It's nothing to worry about just yet. They settled on a date 10¹³⁹ years from now, or 10 million trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion years in the future. And they're at least 95% sure — a statistical measure of certainty — that the universe will last at least another 10⁵⁸ years.

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Original Submission

• Re:"tiny particle that controls the laws of physic Re:"tiny particle that controls the laws of physic (Score: 2) by acid andy on Thursday April 05 2018, @11:56PM (3 children)

  by acid andy (1683) on Thursday April 05 2018, @11:56PM (#663188) Homepage Journal

  So, by that logic, all you have to do is build a computer to calculate exactly how nonsensical it is, with a fresh cup of really hot tea, and you'll be able to control the laws of physics.

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  If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?

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• Re:"tiny particle that controls the laws of physic Re:"tiny particle that controls the laws of physic (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 06 2018, @12:13AM (1 child)

  by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 06 2018, @12:13AM (#663198)

  I think we should just arrest the particle and strip it of its duties.

  That or eject whomever wrote that garbage in the first place.

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  • Re:"tiny particle that controls the laws of physic (Score: 4, Funny) by acid andy on Friday April 06 2018, @12:24AM

    by acid andy (1683) on Friday April 06 2018, @12:24AM (#663204) Homepage Journal

    Maybe it's time to draw up a Constitution of Physics. That way anything undesirable the particle does in future would be unconstitutional. Unless it manages to pass an amendment.

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    If a cat has kittens, does a rat have rittens, a bat bittens and a mat mittens?

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• Re:"tiny particle that controls the laws of physic (Score: 2) by Freeman on Friday April 06 2018, @03:38PM

  by Freeman (732) on Friday April 06 2018, @03:38PM (#663456) Journal

  But, then it'll only give you a number like 42. We need to give it more restraints, so it doesn't come up with an nonsensical answer.

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  Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"

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