Prions
Luckily, this is the epitome of that Epicurus quote:
Why should I fear death? If I am, then death is not. If Death is, then I am not. Why should I fear that which can only exist when I do not?
You know how when you get put under for anaesthesia, and you don't notice the time you were gone? It's like a cut in the tape of life.
What if death is like that, and BAM your consciousness re-emerges billions of years in the future the moment you die.
But your consciousness is alone. And in pitch black nothingness. Forever.
This is what I think happens. You don't experience death, you just reemerge on the other side, no matter how long it takes.
The chances of your brain being created were infinitely small before you were born, but it still only took 14 billion years for it to happen.
Stop reading my mind!
I'm not worried about this specific apocalypse, if only because there is literally nothing that can be done to prevent it nor stop it if it starts.
I'm far more worried about more localized, preventable, human-caused apocalypse like climate or nuclear war.
Exactly. Same energy as worrying about Earth being hit by a gamma ray burst - 🤷♂️
I would be very glad if it was something only destructive to humans, and not the planet(s ecosystems).
How you know the Wikipedia article is good
didnt need the wikipedia page. soon as I read a couple pop sci articles on this I was like "welp this shit sounds dangerous it was nice to know you all"
"threat
If our universe is in a false vacuum state rather than a true vacuum state, then the decay from the less stable false vacuum to the more stable true vacuum (called false vacuum decay) could have dramatic consequences.[5][6] The effects could range from complete cessation of existing fundamental forces, elementary particles and structures comprising them, to subtle change in some cosmological parameters, mostly depending on the potential difference between true and false vacuum. Some false vacuum decay scenarios are compatible with the survival of structures like galaxies, stars,[7][8] and even biological life,[9] while others involve the full destruction of baryonic matter[10] or even immediate gravitational collapse of the universe.[11] In this more extreme case, the likelihood of a "bubble" forming is very low (i.e. false vacuum decay may be impossible).[12] "
Also, of course there's a Kurzesagt
I'm going to file this under the category of philosophy similar to "what if we're living in a simulation?" and "parallel universe" theory. As far as I'm aware we have no evidence that there's even such thing as a false vacuum, so this is all just speculation based on some theories.
Does this mean the laws of physics could just... Change?
Hoping for the scenario that means FTL travel is possible and nothing else changes lol
Irl physics patch is crazy
That seems wildly improbable. What are you going to push off of to get you to speeds faster than light? There could be gimmicky ways like expanding / contracting space, but thats not moving faster than light, thats space changing faster than light. Changing cosmic topology to allow stable wormholes could possibly do something similar, but that could just as easily mean that you and all other matter exist in the exact same location. That would be... not fun
maybe you couldn't survive it but I'm built different
Well, that sucks.
"We like to destroy the universe at least every couple of months."
Subatomically dispersed at the speed of light is probably the best way to go. And no one would be left to mourn you.
♫♪♫ And we will all go together when we go ♫♪♫
Beam be everywhere, Scotty!
If our particular bubble of the universe has remained unmolested for 13.8 billion years, it is safe to assume it will continue to be for the next 1000 years.
that's what the vacuum aliens WANT you to think
Also it's not like assuming it will collapse in the next decade will make any difference other than having a harder time enjoying the time before then.
welp this parallel universe goes down the drain too
Gamma Ray Burst
Sleep tight
I'd much prefer death by a solar system wide tsunami of highly energetic particles then the slow, agonizing death march we're currently doing.
I was gonna say it might be worse if you're on the opposite side of the planet that gets hit but I'll give you that one.
Never trust a gamma ray burst
I believe that it is possible that false vacuum decay has already begun, but so far away that it might not ever reach us.
Obligatory mention of the novel [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schild's_Ladder](Schild's Ladder) by Greg Egan.
Such a scenario would be interesting indeed.
His books are always at least a little mind-bending
He is exceptional at writing hard sci-fi that unnerves you.
I'm moderately certain, whichever future timeline we move to, there will be aspects of Egan's works.
Modern day Jules Verne, recommended to read at least one book of his.
Climate change.
Every day, when I see or hear someone driving a gas vehicle. So like, all the time.
Uh yeah, I sure hope it doesn't
Metastable equilibria.
