Primordial black holes and the Higgs field in the early universe

Recent research indicates that the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle responsible for the mass of other particles, poses a potential risk to the stability of the universe. Although the universe has existed for approximately 13.7 billion years, it may be in a "meta-stable" state, meaning it is not currently unstable but could become so under certain conditions. The Higgs field, which interacts with particles to give them mass, may not be in its lowest energy state, leading to the possibility of a phase transition that could dramatically alter the laws of physics. Such a transition could create bubbles of low-energy space with different physical properties, potentially leading to catastrophic consequences.

The study highlights that primordial black holes, which could have formed shortly after the Big Bang, might contribute to the Higgs field's instability by providing energy that facilitates bubble formation. However, the research suggests that the existence of these primordial black holes is unlikely, as their evaporation would have produced heat that stabilizes the Higgs field. Consequently, the absence of evidence for primordial black holes implies that the universe is likely safe from immediate threats posed by the Higgs boson. Future discoveries, such as ancient radiation or gravitational waves, could provide insights into the Higgs field's behavior and the fundamental forces at play, indicating that there is still much to learn about the universe.