The universe could end at any moment not with a huge explosion but with a "vacuum fluctuation," it was revealed yesterday.

Armageddon would start with some part of the universe flipping into a new state of reality.

A wave of destruction would then spread out at the speed of light engulfing everything in its path.

Light would stop shining and matter would disintegrate into a chaotic soup of elementary particles no longer obeying the laws of physics.

Dr Benjamin Allanach, of the Cern particle physics facility in Geneva, explained that physicists believe the universe has flipped out before, just after its birth 15 billion years ago.

They say a vacuum is not really an empty space but a field with particles in it. It can change from one state to another.

A theory of the universe, called "supersymmetry," suggests the same thing could happen again. A new, denser "jelly" could replace our universe.

Dr Allanach said: "If the theory is correct, the universe could possibly be in a state where it would suddenly change spontaneously."

But the odds of it happening are less than buying two lottery tickets and winning the jackpot twice on the same day - one in 169 million.

Scientists have also discovered that the Gulf Stream has slowed 20 per cent since 1950.

The belt of warm water which dictates our climate confirms fears that Britain could face a mini-ice age, a festival at Glasgow University was told.

•Story originally published by:
The Mirror, London / England - Sept 07.01

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