Abstract
The best hope for determining the destiny of the universe, and to learn whether or not our distant descendants will be pulverized in a Big Crunch, involves a fairly straightforward method. First, measure the current value of the Hubble parameter. Sandage, Tammann, and others are working on this; odds are that it is between 40 and 75. Second, square this figure and multiply by the quantity of 1.9×10-33 grams per cubic centimeter (this is an approximation) to find the critical density. The larger the Hubble parameter and the faster the expansion of the cosmos, the greater the density needed to arrest the expansion. Assuming a low value for H 0, then the critical density is about 5×10–30 grams per cubic centimeter. Third, divide the critical density into the actual material density of the cosmos to get omega. Finally, decide if omega is less than one, equal to one, or greater than one.
For the first time there is evidence of enough dark matter to support the idea that the universe is closed.
—Richard Mushotzky, Goddard Space Flight Center
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© 1995 Paul Halpern
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Halpern, P. (1995). The Search for Missing Matter. In: The Cyclical Serpent. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6036-8_9
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