Astronomy & Space Science · AST-671
Possible Futures of the Universe: Foundations
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Overview
Core model: Possible Futures of the Universe
The long-term future of the universe depends on the behavior of dark energy, matter density, structure evolution, and particle physics. In the simplest cosmological-constant model, expansion continues accelerating and increasingly isolates gravitationally bound systems.
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- 01The Big Bang — SummaryOpen source ↗
OpenStax Astronomy 2e · Mar 9, 2022
View claim-by-claim traceability3 verified claims
As expansion accelerates, distant unbound galaxies cross beyond causal reach while bound structures remain held together locally.
supported · checked Sep 22, 2026Current observations favor continued acceleration consistent with dark energy close to a cosmological constant, but measurements of its equation of state and possible evolution remain important.
supported · checked Sep 22, 2026The long-term future of the universe depends on the behavior of dark energy, matter density, structure evolution, and particle physics.
supported · checked Sep 22, 2026