Is the universe infinite or does it stop somewhere?

Question

Have scientists even given theories on this one? If it goes on forever than every possible combination that can physically come true, must come true, so there'd be a me somewhere typing this too and then another me typing this in a slightly different variation and then so many combos its not worth mentioning. Granted it seems so huge that a great deal of possibilities must be coming true at some point anyway. If the universe stops how is that possible? Does it bug anyone else?

Answer 1

A tricky part of this question is the wording: "the universe," by definition, is all there is! To speak of the universe expanding—into something would mean that there was something bigger, which we ought to have called "the universe" in the first place.

Everybody in the universe sees everything rushing away from everything else; but the universe need have no physical edges, and there is no need to describe it as expanding into anything; it can just expand.

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As multiverse (multiple-universe) theories gain credence, the sticky issue of how to compute probabilities in physics is becoming problematic. If there are indeed many identical copies of you, the traditional notion of determinism evaporates. You could not compute your own future even if you had complete knowledge of the entire state of the multiverse, because there is no way for you to determine which of these copies is you (they all feel they are). All you can predict, therefore, are probabilities for what you would observe. If an outcome has a probability of, say, 50 percent, it means that half the observers observe that outcome.

When observers reside in disconnected universes, there is no obviously natural way in which to order them. Instead one must sample from the different universes with some statistical weights referred to by mathematicians as a "measure."

EXAMPLE UNIVERSE:

Imagine a two-dimensional universe with space for four particles. Such a universe has 2^4, or 16, possible arrangements of matter. If more than 16 of these universes exist, they must begin to repeat. In this example, the distance to the nearest duplicate is roughly four times the diameter of each universe.

OUR UNIVERSE:

The same argument applies to our universe, which has space for about 10^118 sub-atomic particles. The number of possible arrangements is therefore 2 to the 10^118, or approximately 10 to the 10^118. Multiplying by the diameter of the universe gives an average distance to the nearest duplicate of 10 to the 10^118 meters.

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STRING THEORY

Some cosmologists propose that the Big Bang is not a one-of-a-kind event, but part of a recurring cycle. They maintain that string theory motivates them to believe that the Big Bang is not what they've always thought—a beginning of space and time, where temperature and energy diverge. Instead, it is a transition between the current expanding phase and a preexisting contracting phase.

According to the string theory, elementary particles ultimately consist of wriggling strings, which have multidimensional counterparts known as branes. The intrinsic size of strings and branes prevents them from collapsing into points of infinite density. The theory has already had some success in explaining black holes as a novel type of particle, and over the past decade it has inspired several alternatives to the standard picture of inflation.

Like some of those alternatives, the cyclic model is based on the idea that our universe is a three-dimensional brane that bounds a four-dimensional space. Another brane—a parallel universe—resides a sub-subatomic distance away. That universe is closer to you than your own skin, yet you can never see or touch it.

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COSMOLOGICAL EXPANSION

The universe is expanding in space-time, or four dimensions at once (this revelation was Einstein's great leap).

The idea that the universe should be uniform (homogeneous and isotropic) over very large scales was introduced as the "cosmological principle." Our view of the universe is limited by the speed of light and the finite time since the Big Bang. The observable part is very large but it is probably very small compared to the whole universe, which may even be infinite. We have no way of knowing what the shape of the universe is beyond the observable horizon, and no way of knowing whether the cosmological principle has any validity on the largest distance scales possible.

To ask what is out beyond the edge is meaningless in space-time. First, there may not be an edge—this depends on the exact geometry of the universe. And second, there is expansion in space-time, so before the "Big Bang'' there was no space or time. So we are not expanding—into something, because that something never existed.

According to modern cosmological theory, based on Einstein's General Relativity (our modern theory of gravity), the Big Bang did not occur somewhere in space; it occupied the whole of space. Indeed, it created space. It is the expansion of space, between the time when the stars in these distant galaxies emitted light and our telescopes receive it, that causes the wavelength of the light to lengthen (redshift). Space is itself—infinitely elastic; it is not expanding into anything."

The theory of cosmic inflation, an elaboration of the Big Bang, suggests that at still greater distances, the universe is very different from the way it is locally.

The gravitational attraction within galaxies keep them from expanding. Only the space between galaxies is expanding. Some believe that when the total gravitational force of the universe exceeds that of that of the expansion then, the universe will contract.

Answer 2

Think abour the surface of the earth, wich is nearly spherical. For every place on that surface, we can give a unique location description in latitude and longitude. But no matter where we travel, we never come to a boundary of that surface. Even if we climb a high mountain, or go up in an aircraft, we stay within about 10 kilometres of the surface, and on a large scale, we think of the world in two dimensions.

Only astronauts have truly left the world, by travelling outward through a third direction, perpindicular to the surface. For the most part, we only need to refer to two dimensions to describe any location (eg, Sydney is 34 degrees south, 151 degrees east; New York is about 42 degrees north, 73 degrees west). The surface of the earth is finite, and can be measured (about 500 billion square kilometres); but it has no boundary. For a flat-earther, the surface of the world could go on forever. We need the third dimension, perpindiclar to latitude and longitude, to show they are wrong.

In the same way; we know that the universe for us is three dimensional. We don't know, because of our own tiny scale compared with the extent of the universe, whether those three dimensions have a boundary; or if they are curved, like the surface of a sphere; and we would then need a fourth dimension; parallel to the other three to see it.

Some cosmological theories depend on the universe being finite but unbounded ('positive curvature). This would be necessary, if the expansion of the universe eventually were to slow down, and the universe collapse again. In other theories, the three dimensions are constant (no curvature)and the universe is infinite and unbounded, and will go on expanding forever. In still other theories, the three dimensions acually expand the further away we travel ('negative curvature'). These are examples of what is described as the curvature of space.

Answer 3

The current thought is that space is finite yet unbounded. Like the surface of a basketball but in three dimensions. So that you have the freedom to move and expand but the extent is still limited.

As for the "me typing this in a slightly different variation" . . . there is no real solution to that since having infinitely many universes would nonetheless stop you from knowing what was happening in any other universe but your own, so you would never be able to tel lone way or the other.

If you enjoy speculations like this, pick up "Infinity and the Mind" by Rudy Rucker. Its fun but will tie your brain in a knot.

Answer 4

Not only would every possible event be duplicated but the same event would happen billions,trillions or quadrillions ot times then the cycle would repeat endlessly.
The universe must be and is a finite entity that will one day go out of existence.
The universe is an event that happens once and never occurs again.

Answer 5

Well the possible explanation would be that the universe is in fact infinite and therefore there is no boundary to it. If it wasn't as such, i presume there would be other matters maybe unknown to man yet or just simply other galaxies and universe. Hope this helps. : )

Answer 6

The universe as a the scientist predict is a "vast" space. Vast which means unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope according to dictionary. Nothing's said beyond that. Mystery always has a space in this world. It's what makes us think...

Answer 7

Think that the Universe is like Earth. If you ride in a boat, it never stops(exept of course if there is land) so my answer is endless. Well, many things are endless like numbers it goes all the way without stopping. In math elipsis is what we call the infinity ..........

just a bonus

Answer 8

Slow down hotshot...the universe can't stop, but everything is under control. This universe has a nucleus just like a biological cell, who cares what you call It. This universe is reality and reality goes on and on, the material in this universe has a limit and the material expands and contracts over and over like your heart...the size of your heart has a limit.

Answer 9

The universe is infinite, it keeps on going and going and never stops

Answer 10

If I really sit an d contemplate it... Yes it can be bothersome to think about... Thanks a lot (insert sarcasm), and LOL...

I do think the universe is infinite, just like pi and the Energizer bunny... it keeps going, and going, and going...

Okay, I'll stop... Now!