Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Starspun · 07-09-2002, 09:53 AM

(I hope this is the correct forum)

What is past the final frontier?
Not the Star Trek definition of the final frontier (space), but the edge of the universe.

According to this link:

<a href="http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/inf_lowden.html" target="_blank">http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/inf_lowden.html</a>

the universe is in a constant state of expansion.
What could the universe be expanding into? Once again, what is past the final frontier?

I, for one, can not draw any conclusions...can you?

AtlanticCitySlave · 07-09-2002, 10:13 AM

The simple answer, I'm told, is nothing, although to be honest this question has bothered me for many years.

Starspun · 07-09-2002, 10:41 AM

Nothing? Is there such a thing as nothing? I havent heard that one before.

I agree, this question has bothered me off and on for quite sometime.

Starspun · 07-09-2002, 03:40 PM

Whatcha think Mods: bad topic or wrong forum?

Mageth · 07-09-2002, 03:52 PM

Off the top of my head, instead of "nothing" I might label what's beyond the edge of the universe "undefined."

The Other Michael · 07-09-2002, 04:40 PM

<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=56&t=000158" target="_blank">Nothing outside the universe vs no outside to the universe thread</a>

cheers,
Michael

Liquidrage · 07-09-2002, 04:50 PM

There is nothing outside of the universe. If there was something, it to would be part of the universe.

The problem with conceptualizing this comes from the conventional way of thinking about space and matter.

Stop thinking of particles as little billard balls and space and some bedsheet and it gets a little easier to visualize.

There are many books that deal with this subject.
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0195145925/qid=1026262710/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-9493541-9057529" target="_blank">The End of Time</a>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0465078354/qid=1026262657/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/104-9493541-9057529" target="_blank">Three Roads to Quantum Gravity</a>
come to mind

Mr. Sammi · 07-10-2002, 09:26 AM

Our universe expands into infinity.

Sammi Na Boodie ()

Shadowy Man · 07-10-2002, 12:43 PM

Current astrophysical evidence suggests that the universe has an "open" geometry. Therefore, according to current cosmological theory, the universe is of infinite spatial extent, and thus there is no "outside" the universe.

tronvillain · 07-10-2002, 05:36 PM

Though even if it was of finite spatial extent it needn't have an outside.

07-09-2002, 09:53 AM	#1
Starspun Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 334	The Final Frontier (I hope this is the correct forum) What is past the final frontier? Not the Star Trek definition of the final frontier (space), but the edge of the universe. According to this link: <a href="http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/inf_lowden.html" target="_blank">http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/inf_lowden.html</a> the universe is in a constant state of expansion. What could the universe be expanding into? Once again, what is past the final frontier? I, for one, can not draw any conclusions...can you?

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07-09-2002, 10:13 AM	#2
AtlanticCitySlave Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 251	The simple answer, I'm told, is nothing, although to be honest this question has bothered me for many years.

07-09-2002, 10:41 AM	#3
Starspun Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 334	Nothing? Is there such a thing as nothing? I havent heard that one before. I agree, this question has bothered me off and on for quite sometime.

07-09-2002, 03:40 PM	#4
Starspun Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 334	Whatcha think Mods: bad topic or wrong forum?

07-09-2002, 03:52 PM	#5
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Off the top of my head, instead of "nothing" I might label what's beyond the edge of the universe "undefined."

07-09-2002, 04:40 PM	#6
The Other Michael Honorary Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the fog of San Francisco Posts: 12,631	<a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=56&t=000158" target="_blank">Nothing outside the universe vs no outside to the universe thread</a> cheers, Michael

07-09-2002, 04:50 PM	#7
Liquidrage Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Tallahassee Posts: 1,301	There is nothing outside of the universe. If there was something, it to would be part of the universe. The problem with conceptualizing this comes from the conventional way of thinking about space and matter. Stop thinking of particles as little billard balls and space and some bedsheet and it gets a little easier to visualize. There are many books that deal with this subject. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0195145925/qid=1026262710/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-9493541-9057529" target="_blank">The End of Time</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0465078354/qid=1026262657/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/104-9493541-9057529" target="_blank">Three Roads to Quantum Gravity</a> come to mind

07-10-2002, 09:26 AM	#8
Mr. Sammi Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Montr�al Posts: 367	Our universe expands into infinity. Sammi Na Boodie ()

07-10-2002, 12:43 PM	#9
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	Current astrophysical evidence suggests that the universe has an "open" geometry. Therefore, according to current cosmological theory, the universe is of infinite spatial extent, and thus there is no "outside" the universe.

07-10-2002, 05:36 PM	#10
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	Though even if it was of finite spatial extent it needn't have an outside.

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