/sci/ - Science & Math

I once read an interesting notion in the defense of the Big Crunch (or Big Bounce if you support the concept of a cyclical universe). It was stated that despite observing that the universe was being accelerated in its expansion by an unseen "dark" energy that would appear to ultimately rip the universe apart we shouldn't make any assumptions. While that certainly does seem likely it is far from validated.

We know so little about this force of nature and how/why it is doing what it is doing so to conclude that it will continue on this course is also a bit of an assumption. We haven't exactly crossed the threshold of no return so there possibly may be a period in the lifetime of the universe where dark energy weakens or vanishes and gravity resumes sovereignty over all matter and brings everything together into a singularity and restarts the universe with recycled materials.

Considering the questionable nature of dark energy, no one truly has any verifiable reason to declare the Big Rip any more likely than the Big Crunch or the Big Chill.

Honestly, you must be trolling to post this in /sci/ but why do people in general tend to believe there must be a purpose or meaning to everything?

The second it crosses their mind that what they do isn't important, their brains appear to melt. There is no shame in the humble acceptance that you are just another byproduct of the universe with no more purpose than a mote of dust. Be happy you exist at all with the ability to think and feel so that you can appreciate this world in the present state its in.

I know I personally don't need anything more than that.