A post is being widely shared on social media claiming that scientists revealed the exact date of destruction of the world. The post has a link to an article which claims in its title that the Universe is going to end along with the end of Sun in 5 billion years. Let us fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Scientists revealed the exact date of destruction of the Universe.
Fact: There is no evidence to show that scientists had revealed the exact date of destruction of the Universe. Several possible scenarios like Big Crunch, Big Freeze, etc. are discussed by scientists and astronomers, but no exact date was confirmed. There is a scenario of destruction of the earth (not Universe) in relation to the Sun. The time mentioned is about 5 billion years, exact date wasn’t mentioned. According to Scientists, Sun will run out of hydrogen in about 5 billion years. Once all the hydrogen gets used up, the sun will grow out of its now stable phase. Sun starts expanding so large that it will envelope inner planets including Earth. Earth starts engulfing into the Sun as the Sun transforms into a ‘red giant’ star thereby leading to destruction of the earth. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
When we searched online about Scientists revealing the exact date of destruction of the Universe, we could not find any credible information that confirm that Scientists have confirmed a date.
Astrophysicist Katie Mack’s book ‘The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking)’, discussed several possible scenarios (like Big Crunch, Big Freeze, etc.) on the end of the Universe. However, an exact date was not given as ‘the Universe’s fate depends on whether that (its) expansion will continue, accelerate, or reverse.’
Several articles were found about the likely scenario of destruction of the earth (not Universe) in relation to the Sun. The time mentioned is about 5 billion years, exact date wasn’t mentioned. According to Scientists, Sun will run out of hydrogen in about 5 billion years. Once all the hydrogen gets used up, the sun will grow out of its now stable phase.
“In a star, gravitational force pulls all the gases towards the centre. When the star has hydrogen to burn, the creation of helium produces enough outward pressure to balance out the gravitational pull. But when the star has nothing left in the core to burn, gravitational forces take over.”
After 5 billion years, Sun starts expanding so large that it will envelope inner planets including Earth. Earth starts engulfing into the Sun as the Sun transforms into a ‘red giant’ star. Thereby leading to destruction of the earth.
“A red giant is a dying star in the final stages of stellar evolution. In about five billion years, our own sun will turn into a red giant, expand, and engulf the inner planets — possibly even Earth.”
According to a study, however, for the life on earth it can be difficult if there is increase in sun’s brightness. It’s expected that it would vaporise Earth’s oceans in 1 billion to 1.5 billion years.
To sum it up, there is no evidence to show that scientists had revealed the exact date of the end of the Universe.
