Mmastodon TechnologyTechnology first seen 1 d ago, last 18 min ago, peak #1

False vacuum decay could end the Universe without warning

Original: Could false vacuum decay end the Universe without warning? If the Higgs field is metastable, quantum tunneling could in

Physicists are revisiting a bleak theoretical scenario: if the Higgs field is metastable, quantum tunneling could trigger a bubble of lower-energy vacuum expanding at near light speed, destroying everything instantly and without any warning. Researchers stress this is serious theoretical physics grounded in measurements of the Higgs boson, not a prediction of imminent doom. The idea fascinates because it follows directly from the Standard Model's suggestion that our vacuum may not be the most stable state possible.

Why now: Interest in cosmic doomsday physics resurfaces whenever the Higgs field's metastability is discussed, blending genuine theoretical physics with existential fascination

Higgs fieldHiggs bosonfalse vacuum decayStandard Model

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• Could false vacuum decay end the Universe without warning? If the Higgs field is metastable, quantum tunneling could in principle create a lower-energy vacuum bubble expanding near light speed. It is serious theoretical physics — not a prediction of imminent doom. https://www.… · nexthorizon · 4

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