how long will it be before the world ends

Question: how long will it be before the world ends
- Keywords:
  end of the world
Asked by aoiferidge to Enda, Jean, Kate, Kev, Tim on 12 Nov 2012. This question was also asked by lauren, andrewgerrard1999.
- Jean Bourke answered on 12 Nov 2012:
  
  I have absolutely no idea 🙂
  
  Your question can be interpreted in various ways: the end of mankind, the end of our planet, the end of our solar system, the end of the universe.
  
  The end of mankind could be brought about by humans themselves, an asteroid, massive volcano, or other such manmade or natural disaster. The further we get with our technology the less likely it becomes that we can be wiped out by any one event. If we move off our planet and begin to colonise space then it becomes really hard to get rid of us!
  
  The planet could be destroyed by a massive asteroid or similar but even if this doesn’t happen, it will eventually destroyed as our sun will start to expand and become a red giant.
  
  The universe itself looks likely to expand indefinitely and freeze (the big freeze)but that may change as we discover more and more about our universe. You may have to ask someone in the space zone about this kind of thing.
  
  P.S. If you are a fan of science fiction: Stephen Baxter has written a series of books called the Manifold trilogy which talks about humans, intelligent life and it’s survival. So far I’ve only read the first one:time (my boss recommended it). It had a section in it where humans surviving until the end of the universe was portrayed in a really interesting way. Great book if you want some sci fi.
- Kevin Lomasney answered on 13 Nov 2012:
  
  Hi Aoife,
  
  Well as Jean has already said, the most definite answer is that the sun will expand and engulf our planet but we have been reassured that we still have a few billion years (between 5 and 8 billion apparently but its not very certain) before that is due to happen! However, I think there is still too much out there that we don’t know, especially about the universe, so for scientists to predict these things, I think it is very much a guessing game. Have a look at this video, I think you’ll agree with me after watching!
  
  I love this talk, and you can find more like them about all kinds of interesting subjects, from science to music! Here is the main page, http://www.ted.com/ I really recommend it, these people are incredibly interesting and inspiring to say the least! You can find a talk on most topics that you are interested in!
  
  If you don’t like this sight I would be surprised but it’s not the end of the world!!!
- Enda O'Connell answered on 13 Nov 2012:
  
  Hi Aoife
  
  Just to add to Jean and Kevin’s answers. Most civilisations, cultures and religions have or have had their own End of World beliefs (Armageddon, Doomsday, Judgement Day, End of Days – some good and not so good movies there!). Like the fundamental human need to explain where the universe came from, this was their way of explaining what would happen to it eventually.
  
  The Mayan people, who lived for thousands of years where Mexico is now located, had a type of countdown calendar, which gave the date of December 20 2012 (not long now) as the end of the current “creation” with a new creation starting the following day. You will probably hear a lot about it on TV in the next few weeks as the date approaches, but nobody really believes it, and the Mayans themselves didn’t think it would be the end of the world, just the start of a new cycle.
  
  Jean and Kevin are right though about what current scientific thinking has to say about the end of the world and the end of the universe. I don’t expect any of us to be around in a few billion years though, so lets just enjoy the world while we’re here!

Question: how long will it be before the world ends

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