Where does our universe end & what is beyond that?

Answer 1

It is possible that the spatial universe is a 3-dimensional sphere. In that case, the universe would be finite in extent, but have no boundary--that is, no end.

The other possibilities for the spatial universe: it could be 3-dim Euclidean space or 3-dim hyperbolic space. In that case, the spatial universe would be infinite in extent, so again it would have no "end".

To be totally precise, I should point out that the spatial universe could also be the quotient of the above mentioned spaces by a finite group. This wouldn't change the fact that the spatial universe has no boundary.

To read more about this, there is an interesting article in Notices of the American Mathematical Society on the shape of the spatial universe. The title is something like "The Poincare Dodecahedral Space and the Mystery of the Missing Fluctuations"

Answer 2

The answer is not really known. To understand why, you need to have an appreciation for the size of the universe. Our own Milky Way galaxy is a typical spiral galaxy. It is estimated that there are 300 - 400 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy alone. From our place on the outer edge of the galaxy to the center is a distance of about 21 light years.

The Milky Way galaxy is one of many galaxy's that comprise what atromoners call the local group. A small group (a handful) of galaxies that comprises an area many millions of light years across. To put this in perspective, the stars you see at night are mostly inhabitants of the Milky Way. Some of those stars are not stars - some are planets and some others are other galaxys; themselves comprised of hundreds of billions of individual stars yet appearing as a single dot of light in the night sky.

What we see in our night sky is only a fraction of what our ancestors saw and it is hard to comprehend the immensity of the universe from what we see. Our light pollution prevents us from seeing all but the very brightest features of our night sky. All told there could be as many as 100 billion galaxies! The size of the universe is beyond comprehension.

Modern telescopes can see (or atleast collect evidence) of the most distant objects in the universe - the only problem is that the universe is still expanding. And there is the problem. If the universe is still expanding, perhaps some parts of our universe have gone beyond our abilty to "see" them. Even if we have seen the furthest objects, they are still moving and therefore the end of the universe keeps changing.

What is beyond that? Ultimately the question remains.

Answer 3

The Universe ends in space and time. Beyond this is infinite space interconnecting other Universes. This very deep to understand and many physicists not know this. The Time Curve involved interconnects the Universes through Dimensional Holes (Many may call Worm Holes/Black Holes) they not know, I do! But, Stephen Hawking has spent much of his life to understand, sad him and me will never meet and talk in street terms. I just know, Hawking can explain in Physics words. He just not know how it work, I do! :-D
It funny at the time I read, empress_bilqis gets a 3 thumbs down, when she very close to what happens. Ha! Must be some Physics Students here, sort of like psychologists, they taught a certain Norm and believe it! Ha! What a Joke!!!!!

Answer 4

The Universe is the totality of existence. There is no "something else" or "beyond that".

Edit: Try to understand that concept. The Universe is more than objects and the space they occupy. People who speak of alternate Universes are misspeaking. What they are talking about are other dimensions, not Universes. There is only one Universe. The Universe is the totality of existence. If it exists, then it is the Universe.

Answer 5

If you take the Big Bang theory seriously and to the letter - the universe that was created in that instance is all that is. There's nothing but black void that stretches out to infinity. But that's all we really have... theories. Your guess as to what may lie beyond that point is just as good as Stephen Hawking's.

Answer 6

Every time a larger telescope is built more of the Universe can be seen. As far as can be determined it goes on indefinitely. There are different theories as to size and existence but they are just theories at this time.

Answer 7

Right now its hard to say, the universe keeps expanding. If you believe the theory that it will eventually start to contract back then someday millions of years from now we might know whats beyond it.

Answer 8

"Beyond" huh? Ask God after you are, "you know".

But how would you feel if there isn't. Like you know you're dead and you have nowhere to go and vanish (which I'll bet you cannot possibly imagine it) and you cannot think anymore and just POP! you're gone. You cannot remember yourself because you're gone. Completely gone. No after life. Which makes us lucky to live even for a short period of time.

Answer 9

The Twilight Zone.

Answer 10

It probably ends where space cannot be pervaded anymore. We will never know what lies beyond that point. It's a reality that only God can be aware of.