What hypothetical process might create the absolute final stars in the universe, shining potentially quintillions of years from now?
Answer
The merger of two brown dwarfs
If two brown dwarfs spiral inward and merge, their combined mass might cross the threshold (around 80 Jupiter masses) required to ignite sustained hydrogen fusion, creating a new red dwarf that could shine for up to 380 trillion years, potentially lasting several quintillion years from now.
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