  We study the spacetime decay to nothing in string theory and M-theory. First
we recall a nonsupersymmetric version of heterotic M-theory, in which bubbles
of nothing -- connecting the two E_8 boundaries by a throat -- are expected to
be nucleated. We argue that the fate of this system should be addressed at weak
string coupling, where the nonperturbative instanton instability is expected to
turn into a perturbative tachyonic one. We identify the unique string theory
that could describe this process: The heterotic model with one E_8 gauge group
and a singlet tachyon. We then use worldsheet methods to study the tachyon
condensation in the NSR formulation of this model, and show that it induces a
worldsheet super-Higgs effect. The main theme of our analysis is the
possibility of making meaningful alternative gauge choices for worldsheet
supersymmetry, in place of the conventional superconformal gauge. We show in a
version of unitary gauge how the worldsheet gravitino assimilates the goldstino
and becomes dynamical. This picture clarifies recent results of Hellerman and
Swanson. We also present analogs of R_\xi gauges, and note the importance of
logarithmic CFT in the context of tachyon condensation.
