Does anyone know the shape of the universe?

Question

...or if it expands equally in all directions??

Answer 1

There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.

Answer 2

Only as descibed in the Bible "The heavens are Stretched out like a Tent" No one has else has looked from the top of the Universe and taken a picture,except Radio astronomy has given positive proof about the shape of the observable Universe.Per astronomy plot the Universe is not a perfect sphere so any expansion in radial direction is not spherical at all.
Where as the Einstein space time manifold is spherical;however its only a manifold and may not represent a physical reality =Only a theoretical one.

Answer 3

The tendency in raw data terms is to believe that it would be a regular, and constantly expanding, sphere.

However, having pondered this question for many years I have come to the conclusion that the most probable shape would be a fibonacci spiral, rather like the beautiful Nautilus shell, when seen in cross section. The proportions of the spiral are based on the geometric figure the 'Golden Mean'.

I can't prove this but I suspect that astro-physics will soon announce something to this effect.

see here :
http://www.pass.maths.org/issue3/fibonacci/

Answer 4

Our Universe, the Milky Way is, a Spiral Galaxy that apparently looks like a lighted catherine wheel that is expanding equally.

Answer 5

Believe it or not, Quantum theory currently suggests that the universe may be flat. All this discussion about spheres and torus-shaped universes is a very misunderstood concept. It is only our concepts and abilities to observe that are spherical (or any other) shape.

Answer 6

It has no shape. It goes on forever in any and all directions. It neither expands nor contracts. It just is limitless empty space with random and distant clusters of rocks, sun stars and their planets, and thinly dispersed gasses floating around in empty space.

Answer 7

based on the theory of the big bang i would say that it is round like the planets and stars. becouse if you had an explosion, everything would travel outwards from one centre creating that round shape which also explanes the vacume of space. the vacume is becouse equal forces are pulling appart, there for everything inside it would remain in one place unless another force makes them move within that explosion. some argue that it is flat, i dont know why they think so but they do. i think they are wrong becouse they are looking at it from one side, the side where earth is located, its the same as looking on the horizon when you are at sea, everything looks flat.

the theory of relativity can not be used to describe everthing and be sure of it becouse Einstein him self said that he wasnt happy with it becouse it didnt explane everything. things you and i dont have the brain to even know.

i personally am not 100% sure of this, just used one theory and said what i expected it to do.

Answer 8

I think it will be determined by the contents, including dust and energy. The galaxies are clustered, which means forces are not equal and might affect the expansion, making it unequal rather than spherical.

Answer 9

Good Question, draw a line, a staight line.

then look at that line under a microscope, and its not straight at all :-)


i would say it has no definate shape, why should it be any shape?
i like the idea that we think so big, yet are such a tiny miniscule part of all of it.thats fantastic aint it:-)

Answer 10

The shape of universe no one knows, but at a guess I would Ellipsoid.