the universe..?

Question

Can you imagine space going on forever? Some say that the universe is still expanding,,,But What is it expanding into??

Answer 1

This is an often asked question.

The answer is that the universe isn't expanding into anything, but it is space itself that is expanding. There is nothing else 'out there'.

A common analogy is to think of the surface of a balloon, as it is being inflated. If you drew a number of dots on the balloon (analogous to the galaxies in the universe), as the balloon expands, the dots get further away, because the balloon itself is expanding. The surface of the balloon is two dimensional (like the surface of the earth; north-south and east-west).

From our perspective, we see the ballon expanding into the third dimension; pepindicular to the surface of the balloon. But for a two-dimensional being living on the surface of the balloon, who is unaware of another perpindicular dimension, the ballon seems to be expanding into nothing.

So it is with our three dimensional universe: it is three dimensional space that is expanding. We would need a fourth dimension; perpindicular to our three to conceive of the universe expanding into anything. But there is good evidence to suggest that a fourth spatial dimension does not exist, on a universal scale (the force of gravity decreasing with the square of distance is one such piece of evidence).

So therefore, if there is no macroscopic 'fourth dimension', the universe is not expanding into anything, it is just expanding.

(I am excluding the tourth space-time dimension, which is a different concept; and I am excluding the possibility of 'parallel universes'; which may exist in totally diferent dimensions from ours.)

For an excellent book on the fourth dimension, I recommend the amusing "Surfing Through Hyperspace", by Clifford Pickover (an easy to understand book, about two "X Files" type detectives who track a being from the fourth dimension).
Also there is "Hyperspace", by Michio Kaku, more mathematical and a little more difficult.

Answer 2

The universe is expanding but the concept of what it is expanding into isn't really translatable in normal real world terms.

Imagine you're and ant living on a very large balloon. For you the surface of the balloon is the universe and your universe is 2d. You could, if you are a smart ant, detect the balloon expanding but you would not be able to detect what it is expanding into because you are a 2d creature and the balloon is expanding in 3 dimensions.

The universe doesn't go on forever, but we have a boundary that is unreachable so it is in effect infinite.

As an Astronomer / Cosmologist you just get use to the size of things. You sort of switch off. I guess that's part of the gift you need to do the job, but you never lose the wonder of the beauty of what is out there.

Answer 3

expanding into more space....however, it is proven the universe is expanding at a lesser rate as time goes on ( i think-its been a while)....however, this leads to the assumption that universe will expand to a point, so another question is 'what happens next?' im one those ppl who believe it will then begin to shrink....interesting stuff!

I think space is the definition of 'nothing', but i get were ur coming from jess :)

Answer 4

I know it sounds strange, but it's not expanding "into" anything, it is creating the space as it expands. It's a little like asking "when you stretch a rubber band, where does the extra length come from".

Answer 5

Our Universe is merely a "Local Universe" held within a larger "Trans-Universal Superstructure" (TUS) of infinite measure. Our Local Universe is contained within a cylindrical membrane packed back to back with other "multiverses" that are all mutually contained in a double-helix cord called the "Mega Umbilicus". This Umbilicus is auto-catalytically generated out of the core of the flat disk of the “Endoverse” (Inner Universe) where exists a “Cosmic Womb”, the “Uterocore”. These multiverses travel and "mature" as they progress through the Umbilicus, "expanding" until they eventually become cold and inert systems that die, which includes galactic death and the remnant structure dissembles and is deposited beyond the "Termination Belt" in an area of zero point energy called the "Umbra Belt". Beyond this vast void of nothingness the TUS continues with infinite "Multi-Transdimensions" in a sector called the “Supra-Exoverse” (Super Outer Universe).

Answer 6

No-one knows, nor can even contemplate, what is beyond the Universe. The human mind/brain is not yet advanced enough to figure it out, so why those above me are trying, is beyond me also. Can YOU imagine 'infinity', or 'nothing'?

Answer 7

Probably into a bigger universe.

Answer 8

Another easy one it is expanding into infinite space.

Answer 9

My flat has enough space to be thinking about the universes space.

Answer 10

The Universe ends at the last galaxies. When new galaxies are born after the farthest galaxy is a new part of the Universe.