Is there an "out edge" to the universe?

Answer 1

You mean . . . - WERE TRAPPED??!!
If there is an edge to the Universe, then all those unfortunate galaxies that are racing outwards towards the ultimate horizon will eventually hit up against a pretty hard brick wall. Could that be the "BIG SPLAT" ? Or if they loop their way around the surface of that big cosmic balloon , then galaxies going in opposite directions will eventually be flying into each other - the "BIG GALACTIC PILEUP".

Hopefully, there will be a softer landing at the end of the cosmos. Whatever empty space really is, it seems that it is "something". There are quantum microfluctuations, spontaneous particle/antiparticle creation and annihilations, and the 'substrate' that supports all manner of fields. Maybe spacetime itself is a form of energy, whatever that is. It is hard to believe that there could be an infinite amount of this 'stuff'.
I tried to imagine sitting inside a closed universe that has a volume of only one cubic meter or so. If you extend your arm forward, you would poke yourself in the back. If you tried to stand up, you would be standing on your own head. What would the magnetic field from an electric current in a loop of wire do in such a universe? If the loop was about a meter in diameter, each part of the loop would be right up close to the _opposite_ side of the loop, carrying current in the opposite direction, which effectively cancels out the magnetic field. An current without an accompanying magnetic field. Is this right???

Answer 2

We don't know for sure, but most astrophysicists would tell you that they believe that there is no edge.

When they try to illustrate the expanding universe, they'll talk about blowing up a balloon slightly, putting some dots on it with a pen or something, and then blowing it up some more. No matter where you put the dots, all dots are always getting further away from all other dots.

And the edge of the universe? Imagine an ant on that balloon "trying to get to the edge". It will just keep walking and walking and may very well come to its starting location again.

Answer 3

The universe, just recently, was estimated at 168 billion light years across (or something close to that). Since scientists believe they know how fast the universe is expanding they can track back to when all matter was believed to be centered (the big bang) then they can multiply that by however many years they tracked back to, and estimate how long the universe has been expanding and at what speed. (It's much more complicated than that, but that's all I understand). So there has to be an outer edge to the universe. Plus, only God is infinite. If we say the universe is without end, then we are either saying there are two God's or God is the universe, and I don't buy that.

Answer 4

If you think about the question, without making it complex and simply using common sense. Common sense would tell you that there is and must be and edge of the universe. An explosion of any magnitude only contains a certain amount of energy. When the energy from the explosion depletes the expansion of any matter will cease. This means that there must be an edge or end of the universe.Even if you believe that it is continuesly expanding it still has an edge or end..

Answer 5

The edge of the OBSERVABLE universe is about 13.7-billion light years away, but that's not the edge of the entire universe. The most recent research (WMAP and COBE programs) dealing with the nature of our universe strongly indicates that it will continue to expand indefinitely, therefore it has no edge or border.

Answer 6

An "Out edge" assumes an observable end to the universe!
To observe an end is to see beyond it, so in that sense, no, there is no edge.
The universe may however be wrapped in a manner that makes it finite (although expanding).

Answer 7

Yes, its 13.7 billion light years away. Beyond that, theres absolutely nothing

Answer 8

No, its a never ending story.

Answer 9

No one knows this answer yet.

Answer 10

no