It doesn't make sense how space never ends. I mean everything has to end sometime right? But even if it does something has to come after it and where does that end, amirite?
The physical universe does have an end. Somewhere around 93,000,000,000 light years across. However beyond that is empty space. And empty space does not have to end because it's just that. Empty. Nothing.
It's not a physical thing so yes it can. Look at numbers. Numbers don't actually exist so they can in fact go on forever. The emptiness of space is no different.
Space isn't really an object, and we can't see it. The alternative to space going forever is a physical barrier stopping it at a certain distance which also goes on forever (otherwise there would be space behind it which goes on forever). Either way there can and must be an infinite amount of something.
Space is not an object but Space-Time is. It can be bent and warped by gravity. Space is just a name we give to children so they don't ask questions that involve math.
But numbers are just something we made up, it's completely different. Space IS a physical object, we can see it and you can go in it so we know it's real. It has to end somewhere.
Master J is right. There are multiple theories (and this is where we meet up with modern day physics) There were 5 different theories to explain multiple universe. All a different version of string theory. All with 10 dimensions. All with some sort of problem. Then they actually combined them together in to what is now Super-String theory or M-Theory which suggest 11 dimensions. Unfortunately science has not progressed enough yet to fully confirm even the math of M-Theory. For example we don't even know why gravity works!
The Multiverse theory is not proven in any sense. Quit saying it is when it's not. The mathematics suggest something like it, but it's not the same as math suggesting all things fall at the same speed.
There are a couple of problems in our current theories of physics that can be remedied by adding a multiverse to the equation, but that doesn't count as evidence. Multiverse theory can't be proven at this time.
Also, in this universe, there's really no such thing as "empty space". Even if you take out all the lingering gas particles floating around, there's tons of activity going on. Google "quantum foam" if you're interested. The expansion of the universe isn't just an expansion of stuff you can see. It's an expansion of space-time as well. Beyond the universe, not only is there nothing in the most absolute sense, there is no space and no time.
The space between stars and galaxies in our universe is a physical thing that acts under the laws of physics. The nothingness beyond our universe is, as far as we know, infinite.
It's been proven the way "all things fall at the same speed" was proven 100's of years ago. We had the math to support it but it couldn't be tested until Apollo 15 dropped a hammer and a feather on the moon and they hit the ground at the same time. There's math to prove infinite universes and I don't think you'll find many Physicist who would say that there aren't. But no, it has not "technically" been proven.
Damn, the "Also for anyone who just ignored that link. Quit being lazy and read it. It'll be the most interesting thing you've read all month. I promise." actually got me. It was worth it. I don't think humans will ever be able to truly figure it out. By the time we create machinery to catch up with our minds to test all of our insane theories, we'll either be extinct or we'll run through the tests with our spaceships that can go 9,000,000,000,000,000 lightyears only to find that the universe is many times bigger. There are some things we'll never find out, and unfortunately I think this is one of them.
Of course space-time exists, but I wouldn't think of it as an object. I always defined an object as a solid piece of matter (tangible means able to be felt).
I have no idea how you can prove infinite universes, but I'll take your word for it and it sounds cool.
To be honest. Scientists say that our universe came from another universe. That's why we have black holes. Imagine two pieces of paper. Each paper represents a universe. Now, stick a pin in both of them. That point where the pin is a black hole. That hole helped make our universe. There is an idea that a white hole helped create it as well. A white hole is nothing more than a reverse black hole. The stuff that went through the black hole came out of a white hole. Since nothing can enter a white hole, that is how our universe was made. An interesting concept if I say so myself.
I like the loop theory, or that's what I call it. Imagine space is in the shape of a bagel, it has no edge, but it's not a sphere either. Space is supposedly like that. But, there's little evidence for it.
Yeah, it's the same principle. If you kept going in one direction of the Universe you'd end up somewhere else in the Universe. If this is true those it does raise the question, what if we're just one of many Universes in a Omniverse?
Well they say the universe is ever expanding so there could be an edge, it's just always getting farther away. If the universe is some kind of self contained area and there is an outside to it, my guess would be either pure nothingness that can extend forever, or the super trippy idea of our Universe being in something even larger we can't comprehend. Like how the Earth is in our universe, our universe could be like a "planet" in some kind of larger outside multi-verse. That'd be super crazy, if there was an even bigger area outside the universe, that was filled with thousands or millions of other universes.
If I think about this kind of stuff for too long my head starts to spin.
The physical universe does have an end. Somewhere around 93,000,000,000 light years across. However beyond that is empty space. And empty space does not have to end because it's just that. Empty. Nothing.
It's not a physical thing so yes it can. Look at numbers. Numbers don't actually exist so they can in fact go on forever. The emptiness of space is no different.
Space isn't really an object, and we can't see it. The alternative to space going forever is a physical barrier stopping it at a certain distance which also goes on forever (otherwise there would be space behind it which goes on forever). Either way there can and must be an infinite amount of something.
Space is not an object but Space-Time is. It can be bent and warped by gravity. Space is just a name we give to children so they don't ask questions that involve math.
But numbers are just something we made up, it's completely different. Space IS a physical object, we can see it and you can go in it so we know it's real. It has to end somewhere.
And if you want to get technical with it, our Universe is only one of an infinite number of Universes.
Also for anyone who just ignored that link. Quit being lazy and read it. It'll be the most interesting thing you've read all month. I promise.
Master J is right. There are multiple theories (and this is where we meet up with modern day physics) There were 5 different theories to explain multiple universe. All a different version of string theory. All with 10 dimensions. All with some sort of problem. Then they actually combined them together in to what is now Super-String theory or M-Theory which suggest 11 dimensions. Unfortunately science has not progressed enough yet to fully confirm even the math of M-Theory. For example we don't even know why gravity works!
Also you said earlier "I watch too much of the science channel, really." Not. Possible.
The Multiverse theory is not proven in any sense. Quit saying it is when it's not. The mathematics suggest something like it, but it's not the same as math suggesting all things fall at the same speed.
There are a couple of problems in our current theories of physics that can be remedied by adding a multiverse to the equation, but that doesn't count as evidence. Multiverse theory can't be proven at this time.
Also, in this universe, there's really no such thing as "empty space". Even if you take out all the lingering gas particles floating around, there's tons of activity going on. Google "quantum foam" if you're interested. The expansion of the universe isn't just an expansion of stuff you can see. It's an expansion of space-time as well. Beyond the universe, not only is there nothing in the most absolute sense, there is no space and no time.
The space between stars and galaxies in our universe is a physical thing that acts under the laws of physics. The nothingness beyond our universe is, as far as we know, infinite.
I thought an object had to be something tangible.
Also, has it actually been proven that there are infinite universes?
It's been proven the way "all things fall at the same speed" was proven 100's of years ago. We had the math to support it but it couldn't be tested until Apollo 15 dropped a hammer and a feather on the moon and they hit the ground at the same time. There's math to prove infinite universes and I don't think you'll find many Physicist who would say that there aren't. But no, it has not "technically" been proven.
And I'm not sure what you mean by tangible. Radio waves and light waves are not "tangible" but they definitely exist.
Master J is referring to this. http://io9.com/5811706/if-you-k...re-you-started
However this does not conflict with infinite universes.
"Unfortunately science has not progressed enough yet to fully confirm even the math of M-Theory." I quite literally said that.
Damn, the "Also for anyone who just ignored that link. Quit being lazy and read it. It'll be the most interesting thing you've read all month. I promise." actually got me. It was worth it. I don't think humans will ever be able to truly figure it out. By the time we create machinery to catch up with our minds to test all of our insane theories, we'll either be extinct or we'll run through the tests with our spaceships that can go 9,000,000,000,000,000 lightyears only to find that the universe is many times bigger. There are some things we'll never find out, and unfortunately I think this is one of them.
But I mean it can't just go on forever, that's impossible.
Of course space-time exists, but I wouldn't think of it as an object. I always defined an object as a solid piece of matter (tangible means able to be felt).
I have no idea how you can prove infinite universes, but I'll take your word for it and it sounds cool.
To be honest. Scientists say that our universe came from another universe. That's why we have black holes. Imagine two pieces of paper. Each paper represents a universe. Now, stick a pin in both of them. That point where the pin is a black hole. That hole helped make our universe. There is an idea that a white hole helped create it as well. A white hole is nothing more than a reverse black hole. The stuff that went through the black hole came out of a white hole. Since nothing can enter a white hole, that is how our universe was made. An interesting concept if I say so myself.
I think it goes on forever. For humans, on earth, everything ends eventually, and that's why we can't understand the concept of forever.
NO EDGE
Grr, I wanted to be the first to say that! Oh well. NO EDGE!!!
I like the loop theory, or that's what I call it. Imagine space is in the shape of a bagel, it has no edge, but it's not a sphere either. Space is supposedly like that. But, there's little evidence for it.
Like a möbius strip?
Not like the Earth. If the universe was the surface of the Earth, then what's on the inside or if the Universe is a ball, what's on the outside?
Also i got my question wrong, I meant is it like a klein bottle. The whole no edge not a sphere thing, sorta same principle just different shape
Your "loop theory" is talked about in my link above. Assuming you're talking about what I think you're talking about.
Yeah, it's the same principle. If you kept going in one direction of the Universe you'd end up somewhere else in the Universe. If this is true those it does raise the question, what if we're just one of many Universes in a Omniverse?
So kind of like earth? That actually makes sense...
i feel like my brain is going to explode just thinking about this
The category?
Just a little bit of fun for you guys (:
Mindfuck to infinity and beyond
Well they say the universe is ever expanding so there could be an edge, it's just always getting farther away. If the universe is some kind of self contained area and there is an outside to it, my guess would be either pure nothingness that can extend forever, or the super trippy idea of our Universe being in something even larger we can't comprehend. Like how the Earth is in our universe, our universe could be like a "planet" in some kind of larger outside multi-verse. That'd be super crazy, if there was an even bigger area outside the universe, that was filled with thousands or millions of other universes.