Promising Signs of Life Detected on Distant Planet K2-18b

A team of international scientists led by researchers from the University of Leeds has simulated a hypothetical phenomenon known as "false vacuum decay," which theorizes that the universe could exist in a false state that may shift to a true vacuum state at any time, fundamentally altering its structure. The study, published in Nature Physics, employed a 5564-bit quantum annealer to model the creation of cosmic bubbles that would form during this transition. Lead author Zlatko Papic explained that such a scenario could cause the universe to collapse instantly, comparing the quantum dynamics to a rollercoaster with a single ground state.
The researchers emphasized the significance of this simulation, highlighting its potential to explore questions previously deemed impossible. While this catastrophic change is unlikely to happen imminently, it underscores the advancements of quantum computation in probing complex cosmic phenomena. Papic stated, "Using the annealer allows us to observe them in real-time, so we can actually see what's happening." Importantly, these findings may pave the way for controlled experiments to further understand the time scales of such processes in the universe.