The universe: an unstable balance?
Through space, the galaxies generate new stars, the black holes engulf the material, while two cosmic puzzles – dark matter and black energy – shape the structure of the universe. Despite all this tumult, the cormos appears to us remarkably stable. This stability is what allows scientists to study the world using reliable physical laws.
In quantum physics, this stability is based on a key concept: vacuum state. It is not an absolute vacuum, but a state in which the fundamental fields of the universe (such as the electromagnetic field or the field of Higgs) have reached their lowest energy level.
But here, a concern arises: what if some of these fields were not in their truly minimal state of energy?
False vacuum: a cosmic trap
Among all the quantum fields, the Higgs field plays a crucial role: it is responsible for the mass of particles. However, some analyzes suggest that the Higgs field may not be in its “real” empty “, but in a false emptiness – a kind of temporary plateau, less stable than it seems.
Peter Onyisi, professor of physics at the University of Texas in Austin, explains this by an analogy: imagine crossing a mountain range. You go through many valleys, but only the lowest valley is really stable. In the same way, our universe could be stuck in an intermediate valley, waiting, potentially, to fall into an even lower state.
If that were to happen, it would be catastrophic: the very structure of matter would change. The electrons and quarks would become billions of more massive times, the complex atoms would cease to exist, the stars would extend, and the chemistry which makes life possible disappears.
In other words, the universe as we know it would be destroyed.
How would the collapse occur?
The transition from a false vacuum to a real vacuum would not be done gradually. It would occur by a phenomenon known as the quantum tunnel:
→ A bubble of the “real vacuum” would suddenly appear somewhere in the universe.
→ This bubble would extend at the speed of light, engulfing everything in its path.
Within this bubble, the laws of physics would be radically different. No chance to escape this cosmic tidal wave: he would travel faster than any possible alert.
© Combo1982/Istock
A theoretical threat … to be put into perspective
Fortunately, the calculations reassure. According to David Tong, theoretical physicist at the University of Cambridge, the time estimated before a disintegration of the false emptiness is astronomically long – about a billion billion billion billion years old.
As a comparison, the current universe has “only” 13.8 billion years.
In other words, this apocalyptic scenario is so distant that it is practically unimportant for us.
What recent experiences say
To better understand how such disintegration could take place, researchers recently led an unprecedented simulation.
Jaka Vodeb, from Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany, and his team used 5,564 qubits on a quantum reception computer to simulate the propagation dynamics of a real void bubble.
Against all expectations, they discovered that the bubbles do not spread spontaneously in a linear way. On the contrary, large bubbles absorb the smallest in a complex and chaotic process.
Although their model is simplified, these works offer a first overview of what could theoretically happen in our own universe.
Towards a better understanding of our cosmic destiny
Even if we have nothing to fear for billions of years, this research is not in vain. They allow us to deepen our understanding of the fundamental laws of the universe.
They reveal to what extent the reality we know is based on subtle balances and how our existence could depend on invisible quantum parameters.
Ultimately, this kind of discovery reminds us of a deep truth:
The universe is not only stranger than we imagine; He is stranger than we can imagine.
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
