THE HIGGS BOSON COULD IT DESTROY THE UNIVERSE ?
Big Bang
0.00 seconds
Widely considered to be the beginning of our universe. This point contains all of time and space, all of the universe’s fundamental forces and is made of pure energy.
Inflation
10 - 38 seconds
A brief and rapid period of expansion of the universe begins, thought to be a consequence of the strong nuclear force becoming distinct.
Quarks and hadrons
10 -10 seconds
The expanding universe cools enough for fundamental matter particles to form. These will combine into protons and neutrons as the universe nears its first second of existence.
First nuclei
180 seconds
As the expanding universe cools further, the sea of protons and neutrons form atomic nuclei. Largely this is hydrogen and helium, possibly with some lithium.
First atoms
380,000 years
Free electrons combine with the hydrogen, helium and lithium nuclei to form atomic versions of the primordial elements. The dense ‘fog’ lifts as a result and the universe becomes transparent.
