# The universe will end. How does that make you feel? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998 "2005-07-18T17:19:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/21 "2005-07-19T14:47:23Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Kinda sad, innit? Funny you start this thread. The last couple months I been kinda depressed thinking about this. It’s almost like a battle between admiration, and anger at the same time. I think about it so much that the three dementional images in my head that I have about Space, Time, and the Universe, are starting to freak me out. I mean, we’re chilling on a giant ball of rock and gas. And we’re on a _tiny_ planet. There are _bigger_ ones! I’m not talking about something like Jupiter. It’s big, but it’s not Sun big. Try to imagine the size of our solar system, then a bunch of solar systems similar to ours in a Galaxy. Then picture billions and billions of Galaxies, just like ours, trillions upon trillions of miles between each other! It really makes you think, just what the hell is going on? Where is the start and end? _Where are the walls?_ Forget whether or not God exists, what is the point of this repetitive cycle of stars and planets? And then there’s time. All this stuff formed over billions of years. Billions? Before I was born, I had no concept of time. The same with sleep. Time does not exist, although only when I’m conscious. When I have passed, time again will cease to exist. The second I die, nothing exists. That’s fucked up. I mean, human kind will advance for a while, but in my dead state, things will likely end just as fast as they were created. Uh, yeah… If you have plenty of time to think folks, find a hobby and don’t stop. ---
**Author:** ![Ruckinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@Ruckinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruckinge)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/22 "2005-07-19T15:03:27Z")
I’ve always been an underachiever. So no, can’t say I’m too bothered by it. I can’t do anything to stop it, I should just accept it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/23 "2005-07-19T15:25:36Z")
**ParentalAdvisory** : Kinda makes you feel insignificant, dunnit? So… Can we have your liver? ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/24 "2005-07-19T15:28:45Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > How does it make me feel? It gives me this idea for a restaurant… Damn, I’ve only done five impossible things this morning. Stumped for the sixth… (maybe after lunch) ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/25 "2005-07-19T16:54:22Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > Damn, I’ve only done five impossible things this morning. Stumped for the sixth… (maybe after lunch) Oh, that’s too easy. If you’re well and truly stumped, then thinking of a sixth item… would be impossible. There you are. 😃 Works out nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/26 "2005-07-19T17:12:22Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Kinda sad, innit? Nah. Isn’t that the way things are supposed to work? Cycles of creation and destruction? I’d maybe be sad about the _cycle_ coming to an end, but not merely the universe. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/27 "2005-07-19T17:32:24Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > Oh, that’s too easy. If you’re well and truly stumped, then thinking of a sixth item… > > would be impossible. There you are. 😃 Works out nicely. Thanks! My infinite improbability drive is on the fritz (faulty Brownian motion generator) so this technicality was a life saver. When next you’re at Milliways, do try the fish! ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/28 "2005-07-19T22:19:26Z")
Honestly, I don’t think about it. Fretting about the end of the universe in billions of years isn’t going to help me in my studies. By the time the universe ends, all the people I care about will be dead, so I really don’t care. Bacon does sound good. ---
**Author:** ![SiouxChief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@SiouxChief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiouxChief)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/29 "2005-07-19T23:52:04Z")
Don’t be so pesssimistic! Some enterprising young species will discover alternate energy sources. As **Master Control** said, we’ve got a heck of a lot of time to work with. The worst case scenario is the “big crunch”, and as long as that doesn’t happen, we’ll all be just fine. Side note: I know today’s evidence points toward infinite expansion, but I’ll leave the final determination to future scientists, such as the esteemed Ephram Glorzax Jr. of the 79 Ceti system. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/30 "2005-07-20T00:18:29Z")
The universe will not die. It will go to live with some nice people in the country, where it will have lots of room to run around. I know you’ll miss it, but it will be much happier there, really. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/31 "2005-07-20T00:22:42Z")
> [@SiouxChief](#): > > Some enterprising young species will discover alternate energy sources. As **Master Control** said, we’ve got a heck of a lot of time to work with. > > The worst case scenario is the “big crunch”, and as long as that doesn’t happen, we’ll all be just fine. Side note: I know today’s evidence points toward infinite expansion, but I’ll leave the final determination to future scientists, such as the esteemed Ephram Glorzax Jr. of the 79 Ceti system. Ah, but Asimov’s story points out that eventually there will be _no_ energy sources, alternate or otherwise. (Spoiler notwithstanding – this is a science fiction story.) I think an ever-expanding universe is the worst-case scenario. In an ever-expanding universe, everything – _everything_ – dies. Forever. With a Big Crunch, one cycle comes to an end and another one starts. (IIRC, the Hindu cosmology sounds a lot like an endless cycle of Big Bangs and Big Crunches.) ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/32 "2005-07-20T00:25:12Z")
It would be neat to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/33 "2005-07-20T00:25:48Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Kinda sad, innit? Nope. Matter of fact, I couldn’t care less. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/34 "2005-07-20T02:49:37Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Kinda sad, innit? Meh. All we are is dust in the wind, dude. Doesn’t bother me one bit. My ego is not threatened by my insignificance in the grand scheme of things, nor am I necessarily troubled by the idea that far in the future, all I see about me will be cinders. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/35 "2005-07-20T03:40:10Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Last I heard, the universe will continue to expand forever. I don’t think that’s the same as the universe ending. End of existence as we know it and all? Sure. As to my feelings: I try to be zen about it. It makes sense to me. Sounds a little melancholy and weird, but the “twilight” aspect of it - once things are gone, they don’t come again, the great winding down of the celestial clock and such - that all makes sense from my perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/36 "2005-07-20T03:46:06Z")
Frankly, I think the universe will be quite a lot better off without us. But then, I’m an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/37 "2005-07-20T03:48:04Z")
> [@Hung Mung](#): > > Frankly, I think the universe will be quite a lot better off without us. But then, I’m an asshole. I agree that the universe - well, my teeny portion of it - would be much better without assholes. But we’re not a problem for the universe; we have no impact. We hardly ever even manage to get people off our own planet. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/38 "2005-07-20T03:56:18Z")
Mark me as another one who could not care less. If anything it’s kind of reassuring. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/39 "2005-07-20T10:32:04Z")
I feel fascinated. It saddens me moreso that humanity and then the earth itself will one day end their existence. Though not much more. ---
**Author:** ![matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2005, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998/40 "2005-07-20T10:46:22Z")
I think we should hold an enquiry and demand a resignation. Then pass some laws to stop it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-universe-will-end-how-does-that-make-you-feel/312998.md?page=3)