The full 13.8 billion years unfolds in order: quarks bind into nuclei in the first three minutes, light finally travels freely at 380,000 years and survives as the 2.725 K microwave background we still measure, then matter gathers into filaments wrapped around vast voids. Beyond the present day, three fates diverge: endless cooling expansion, a Big Crunch back to a hot point, or a Big Rip in which dark energy strengthens until every structure is torn apart.
The full 13.8 billion years unfolds in order: quarks bind into nuclei in the first three minutes, light finally travels freely at 380,000 years and survives as the 2.725 K microwave background we still measure, then matter gathers into filaments wrapped around vast voids. Beyond the present day, three fates diverge: endless cooling expansion, a Big Crunch back to a hot point, or a Big Rip in which dark energy strengthens until every structure is torn apart.
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