Cosmic Countdown: Universe May Fade Away in 10^78 Years, Study Finds

A new theoretical study argues that not only black holes but other ultradense objects will evaporate via Hawking radiation, shortening the universe’s remaining lifetime to about 10^78 years—far sooner than the previously estimated 10^1100 years. White dwarfs and neutron stars, along with black holes, will gradually fade through gravitational pair production, with white dwarfs and massive black holes persisting around 10^78 years and neutron stars around 10^67 years. Earth would survive roughly 5 billion more years until the Sun consumes it, after which all matter and life would ultimately vanish in the cosmic void.