the big bang occured 13.75 billion years ago. since then the universe has been expanding outwards. therefore there is an edge to the observable universe. it’s 1^26 (that’s 1 with 26 zeros after it) meters in every direction.
We don’t know much about what’s beyond that as we can observe it. THere are theories that are universe is one of many universe where the collective is known as the multiverse!
Since the universe has been expanding outwardly since the big bang, a question remains that is largely unanswered (unless I am not keeping up to date with modern physics). At least when i was studying physics, scientists were unsure whether the universe would keep on expanding like a large balloon for ever, or if it would stop and just stay at one size, or whether it would start to contract again. If it contracts back in, then eventually it would collapse all the matter (stars and planets) into a tiny tiny dot which would probably cause a huge explosion and big bang 2 would start it all off again.
A really interesting philosophical question is whether life would start again in big bang 2?
That’s a great question, and one that scientists are still trying to figure out. Its really hard to know what the universe is expanding into…since its just so far away!
Here’s a cool picture that shows how its expanding…apparently, its happening faster and faster. But we can’t feel this since we’re moving right along with it!
@ hannahnlovescheese
I suppose Christianity is one of the first to talk about the world ending in the “2nd coming”. It is not necessarily a bad thing in this case as the “2nd coming” offers the hope of eternal life. St. John at Patmos in the Book of the Revelation wrote about what will precede the 2nd coming. That was around 90 AD.
More people or relegions, even before Christianity, have come up with theories or prophesies about the world ending. I suppose everything that has a “start” should also have a “finish” (?)
Hi David, nice to know your real name! You at absolutely right. Something that is infinite has no end, either in it’s length or over time. I think we wonder a lot if the universe is infinite or not. Either answer Is very hard to imagine. If it is infinite then it means nothing could hold it. But if it’s not infinite, what happens at the edge and beyond.
I love thinking about these things, but I think no one really has the answer yet, and it can hurt my head if I think for too long about it.
Comments
tosty55 commented on :
There is an end of everything?, is infinity in this group called “everything” ?
Andrew commented on :
hi tosy55. can you explain your question in a bit more detail please? Im not sure how to answer your question about infinity.
tosty55 commented on :
You can call me David, well I ment to say that not everything has an end right?, infinity, for example, does not have an end I’m guessing.
Andrew commented on :
Hi David, nice to know your real name! You at absolutely right. Something that is infinite has no end, either in it’s length or over time. I think we wonder a lot if the universe is infinite or not. Either answer Is very hard to imagine. If it is infinite then it means nothing could hold it. But if it’s not infinite, what happens at the edge and beyond.
I love thinking about these things, but I think no one really has the answer yet, and it can hurt my head if I think for too long about it.
chantal24 commented on :
the earth will end in million of years if the worl ended before will it sure to end again but not for ages