Will the universe run out of energy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter avant-garde
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Energy Universe
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on whether the universe can sustain itself indefinitely, with participants noting that while mass and energy cannot be destroyed, the heat-death scenario suggests a limit to usable energy due to increased entropy. The idea of breaking the second law of thermodynamics to extend the universe's lifespan is mentioned, but dismissed as impractical. Concerns about the sun's eventual demise and the potential for new stars to form are debated, with the consensus that no new stars will replace the sun in a meaningful timeframe. The conversation emphasizes the need for renewable energy investments to mitigate the effects of heat death. Overall, the future of the universe remains uncertain, particularly regarding its long-term energy sustainability.
avant-garde
Messages
195
Reaction score
0
What do you think? Do you think technology can keep the universe running forever?
 
Space news on Phys.org
Universe can't run out of energy, neither of mass. The Mass and energy can't be destroyed, just transformed.
 
Well, I meant, can we sustain the universe forever? Apparently the heat-death scenario says no.
 
Heat death doesn't mean that there is any less energy than today. It simply means that the energy is all disorganized (entropy) and cannot be used to do any useful work.
 
If we can't make the universe last forever, is there a way to slow down time to make it seem like it lasts forever subjectively?
 
Well, it's already going to last so long, it'll feel like forever.
 
Well, it's already going to last so long, it'll feel like forever.
good point.
 
Basically we would have to break the second law of thermodynamics. But why worry about that now? We don't have any where to go when the sun dies so it really doesn't matter.
 
  • #10
Good point but what's to say another star of greater proportions won't take its place? Heck this is still so far away that your great, great, great, great grand children might witness this and by then there could be two suns. Check star patterns and the possibility is more likely then not. What is your theory? Another possible ice age? I think this is just more hum drum what if BS show your theory or any kind of solid facts. I hate the chicken running around going the sky is falling! SORRY!
 
  • #11
I don't think you guys are grasping the time scales here. Ice ages happen on the order of every 100,000 years. The sun will live about another 5,000,000,000 years. That's not 7 generations of your offspring, but 160,000,000. Heat death is on the order of 10^100 years.

And no, another star won't replace our sun. They don't just appear out of nowhere.
 
  • #12
Also for another star to reform out of the remains of a supernova would take so long that everything on Earth would have died any way. Also we do notknow how much matter (dark matter etc) is in the universe so we don't know if it will expand for ever.
 
  • #13
We urgently need to invest in renewable energy, to save the universe from heat death !
:smile:
 

Similar threads

I Why didn't the Big Bang form a Black Hole?
Replies
7
Views
3K
I Mining the Universe's expansion?
Replies
25
Views
3K
B Percentage of known energy in the Universe
Replies
9
Views
3K
A Form of energy at time of big bang
Replies
11
Views
2K
I Expanding Universe without dark energy
Replies
3
Views
3K
I "Energy is not conserved" vs. energy is conserved: Friedmann Equations
Replies
17
Views
4K
B Why doesn't cosmic inflation violate conservation of energy?
Replies
3
Views
3K
B Estimates — True Size of the Universe?
Replies
17
Views
3K
I Sachs-Wolfe effect in a Dark Energy universe?
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Bubble universes and physical constants
Replies
8
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top