What do you know, there’s still some hope left in the world! In a new paper published in Nature Astronomy, researchers found that the way they previously predicted the world to end may not happen after all, according to Daily Mail.
In the past, research has predicted that, sometime in the next five billion years, Earth will collide with the Andromeda Galaxy at 220,000 mph, effectively swallowing Earth in the process. This alarming prospect has haunted many and sparked discussions about the distant future of our planet and the cosmos.
Now, researchers at Durham University have lowered the likelihood of that catastrophic scenario to a 50/50 chance after conducting 100,000 simulations. The implications of this finding bring a refreshing dose of optimism. While having a coin flip’s chance that the world may not end in a horrifying way may not sound like good news, it does represent a significant adjustment from previous dire predictions.
“It used to appear [Earth was] destined to merge with Andromeda forming a colossal ‘Milkomeda,’” Professor Alis Deason, a co-author of the study, said, as reported by the outlet. “Now, there is a chance that we could avoid this fate entirely.” This evolution in understanding reflects not only scientific advancements but also a shift in perspective regarding our place in the universe.
How the World May Avoid Its Previously Assumed Fate
Currently situated 2.5 million light years from Earth, Andromeda is the nearest major galaxy to the Milky Way. While this distance seems incomprehensibly vast, gravitational forces are propelling the two massive galaxies closer, creating potential for an eventual encounter.
“We see external galaxies often colliding and merging with other galaxies, sometimes producing the equivalent of cosmic fireworks when gas, driven to the center of the merger remnant, feeds a central black hole emitting an enormous amount of radiation before irrevocably falling into the hole,” explains Professor Carlos Frenk, another co-author of the study. This paints a vivid picture of the dramatic events that can unfold in the universe, but suggests a more complex fate for our Milky Way.
According to the new research, only about two percent of the simulations indicated that the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies would actually collide within the next five billion years. This is a significant decrease in predicted risk, and brings new insights into the dynamics at play between these two galactic giants.
Interestingly, approximately half of the simulations revealed a different scenario: the galaxies passing so closely to each other that they would begin to slow down. This would initiate a gradual spiral toward an eventual merger, projected to occur within the next eight to ten billion years. However, this process wouldn’t spell doom for Earth as we know it.
“Our results suggest that a collision, even if it happens, might take place after the Earth and the sun no longer exist,” stated Dr. Till Sawala, lead author of the study. This caveat suggests that, while the cosmic ballet continues, our planet’s fate is likely to be dictated by more immediate and terrestrial challenges rather than distant galactic collisions. Even if it happens before the sun’s end, it’s very unlikely that anything catastrophic would occur to Earth itself – after all, even in galaxy collisions, direct collisions between stars are exceedingly rare.
