what is outside space?

Question

outside of my house is the street,outside that is space,whats outside that

Answer 1

No one knows. Some think space goes on forever...it is infinite. But infinity is poorly defined in science and mathematics. So, when scimath tries to grasp an infinite universe, it fails miserably. Even Einstein, with his cosmological constant, struggled over the infinite vs. finite issue. [Read about the cosmological constant on the web.]

Some think our universe is finite. But only one universe of an infinite number of parallel universes (like slices of bread in an infinite sized loaf). In fact, some believe our known universe, which results from the big bang, was caused by the collision of two such slices in the infinite loaf. [See "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene for the slices of bread model.]

Still others believe our universe is the only one, but it is finite...born of the big bang out of a null void (a prenatal universe devoid of anything). By the way, space (our space) is not empty; it is a something that has been observed to bend under massive gravity (like a galaxy). [Read about "gravity lenses" on the web.]

When we talk about the "universe," we are really talking about two distinct parts: the known part and the unknown part. The known part of our universe has a radius of about 14 billion light years. That's how far out we can observe from Earth. The unknown part of our universe lies beyond that 14 billion light years. Because of speed of light limitation, we can not see into the unknown part because light from beyond has not yet reached us since our known universe is only 14 billion years old according to the big bang theory.

Proxy data, like background noise, indicate the big bang. They also indicate our known universe is expanding. That is, we have good data that our known universe had a beginning and we have good data indicating our known universe is going somewhere (i.e., expanding into something). That is, we have good data about the beginning and middle of our universal time line. What we are unsure about is its end...will the universe collapse and recycle with another big bang, will it continue outward forever, or will it eventually snuff out like a lone candle in the wind? [Read about the big bang time line on the web.]

Answer 2

mmh. interesting question, and even more interesting answers so far. i have tried to think about it. even asked a similar question right here some time back.

In my view (and am no expert here, just interested), space is finite at some point. that is why we have space warping, as described by some one else here.

to follow through with the reasoning, there is the observable and then the unobservable universe. now space, or the outside of it precisely, will fall within in what we have chosen to cartegorise as "unobservable"

let me dwell on this just a bit; unobservable would also mean those dimensions, or environs that cannot be brought within the realms of human understanding. if all our technologies to date, our sci know how to date, cannot fathom what is out there... then we cannot meausre it, cannot observe it.

Finally allow me to quote from the movie Matrix,
" ... understanding... that, would require a mind less bound by the parameters of human imperfection..." (I Love the Matrix!)

Answer 3

Space (the universe)　is finite but unbounded (the usual analogy is the 2 dimensional surface of a balloon). Spacetime (NOT space alone) originated in the big bang, maybe from a random quantum fluctuation. "Outside"　spacetime is a meaningless concept. The origin of the univese is around 13 billion years ago; the origin of the solar system around 4.5 billion years ago. Read up on the basic idea of the big bang.

Answer 4

space doesnt end, so there is just more space!! I have thought the same thing many times, i mean could you imagine coming across a wall saying it is the end of space?? breaking through this wall, what would be on the other side?? A vacuum?? If space has limits then perhaps it is also round just like the earth, where you will come back around on yourself

Answer 5

I think when you come to the edge of space, there is a sign that says - Stop! and a warning sign that you could fall off.

Seriously though, space is well above my sense of comprehension.. because we've nothing so vast to compare it with. Everything else has a end (I'm guessing time will have).

Doesn't it make you feel small, insignificant and wonder what the hell life is all about?

Answer 6

Space doesn't have an outside.

Answer 7

space is infinite.. with our small brains it's hard to comprehend as we imagine that there is a definative line to things, but beyond space there is more space, and beyond that there is even more space. Think back to when we thought the world was flat.. we discovered that its not, and that changed our whole perspective on things. It's hard to imagine but there is no line that we can draw to say thats the end of space.

Answer 8

I pretty much agree with the answer above mine, but I would add that what is outside of space is a false vacuum.

Answer 9

More space

Answer 10

space is the infinite. It continues forever, and there is no end. We just call it space because that is exactly what it is, the absence of matter. It is said that most of space is made from anti-matter, and hydrogen.