February 5, 2005: Cosmological Theories - Charles Seife
Update: 2025-10-25
Description
Is the universe losing control of itself and racing toward an inevitable end? Science Magazine writer Charles Seife, author of "Zero" and "Alpha and Omega," explores cutting-edge cosmological theories about the universe's ultimate fate. Seife explains how recent discoveries about dark energy have revolutionized our understanding of cosmic expansion, revealing that the universe is not just expanding but accelerating at an alarming rate. The discussion examines two possible endings: the Big Crunch, where expansion eventually reverses and everything collapses back together, or heat death, where expansion continues until nothing but radiation remains. Seife delves into extra dimensions, parallel universes, and the concept of infinite space that could "break your brain" if contemplated too deeply. The conversation addresses how Edwin Hubble's 1920s discoveries about cosmic expansion laid the groundwork for our current understanding, while modern observations suggest we may be witnessing the universe literally "losing it" as dark energy tears apart the very fabric of space-time.
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