To my understanding, the precursors would be the same; however, these precursors would also be incredibly abnormal for that particular volcano. The alert level normal simply means that the unrest has been observed since Yellowstone has been observed.

While it's true, there have been signs that have raised a few flags for scientists, it's nothing that hasn't been seen before.

The problem with predicting a volcanic eruption, even with signs of an eruption is that sometimes the signs of an eruption are misleading. It may show signs of an eruption but never erupt, sometimes there are no signs at all and then it erupts out of nowhere.

That's the problem with volcanoes and why understanding them is so important because as it stands, it's nearly impossible to predict an eruption simply due to the unpredictable nature of volcanoes.

While it says the activity is normal, they also say an uplift in the volcano can mean the volcano is going to erupt. If that's true, then how do they know the difference between the two?

We don't have evidence yet, but according to physicist John Ellis, we'll be able to tell if it's true by studying the properties of the theoretical Higgs Boson.

While I agree that an event of that sort is unlikely to happen, it's a terrifying thought I have once in a while. If I die of a heart attack, it won't kill my entire family, and it definitely won't kill everyone else on the planet.

Everything Astro has said is correct.

The false vacuum is similar to Dark or Strange Matter, it's theoretical at best.

As for the Earthquakes, I would simply like to say; So what?

California alone has about 1,000 Earthquakes each year, that's not including tremors.
The only problem with Earthquakes now is simply that there are more people in the way so they're becoming more and more recognized.

Tsk, tsk.

Isn't it true that between December 2008 and April 2009 there were lots of earthquakes there and some feared it could be dangerous? Things seemed to return to normal now, but it's a bit scary that it could erupt at any second. Have scientists set an estimated date for the next eruption? If so, then what are they basing their calculations on?

Yes, there were a lot of earthquakes at the Yellowstone Caldera during that period. The area is geologically active, and there are periods of increased activity. Geologists are not sure what that means, and some think the magma chamber below the caldera is gradually heating up, and some think that it is gradually cooling off.

Yellowstone will not "erupt at any second". It goes through periods of increased activity and periods of decreased activity. We're not even sure it will ever erupt again in "super-volcano" volume.

I've read about a pretty scary theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_vacuum

So apparently our universe can be swallowed by a bubble at any second. I know it's highly unlikely to happen in our lifetime, but still it's a terrifying thought.

It's unlikely to happen, period.

First of all, as I understand it, there is no evidence that our universe exists in a "false vacuum quantum field". The authors of that paper consider the possibility that it does, as a thought experiment.

The entire "false vacuum" conjecture (again, as I understand it) is an attempt to unify General Relativity with Quantum Mechanics. It is part of some of the esoteric theories of particle physics.

Lately I started hearing about stuff like that, and it's pretty depressing knowing that the world can come to an end at any second, and there won't be anything I'll be able to do to change it.

Let me reassure you; you are many millions of times more likely to die at an advanced age due to a heart attack or stroke, or in a car accident, than you are likely to die from any astronomical event. Perhaps the lesson here should be to eat your veggies and get regular exercise.

I think that our universe will expand for at least 3.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000 years more, not even the astronomers thinks that the end of the universe will be in 2012, and you said that the universe could be swallowed by a bubble? Don't you mean that there will be more black matter witch will cause extra gravity so the universe will collapse? In that case I can say that that will also happen in billions and billions of years in the future even if it will, we don't know.

I've read about a pretty scary theory
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_vacuum

So apparently our universe can be swallowed by a bubble at any second. I know it's highly unlikely to happen in our lifetime, but still it's a terrifying thought.

Lately I started hearing about stuff like that, and it's pretty depressing knowing that the world can come to an end at any second, and there won't be anything I'll be able to do to change it.