Big Crunch. Conceptual artwork representing the Big Crunch, one hypothetical end of the universe. The universe is thought to have been formed between 12 and 15 billion years ago in a huge explosion known as the Big Bang. All the matter now present in the universe is thought to have originated from the point of this explosion. There are several theories for the future of the universe. The Big Crunch theory relies on there being enough matter in the universe to gravitationally slow, and eventually reverse, its expansion. This outcome leads to all the matter falling in on itself, as seen here.