What / how is there, behind the borders of universe?
356041
There are various things that you might want to read about, horizon theory & donut theory might be a good place to start. Much as we once thought the world was flat and we'd fall off the edge, but then discovered that is was round when we sailed from one side of the world to the other the same is thought (by some) to also be true about the universe, you travel in a line for long enough, you start off where you left off!
9649
It does not end and its growing, before you try tackling such a question, answer the micro-level questions of the same kind.  The universe encompasses all that exists, and by default then, it is largely unknown.  We don't know where the universe ends, and all evidence points to it being endless and growing, therefore we make a conclusion based on a portion of the information actually needed.
220589
For all we know there is nothing "outside" the universe, so obviously no way to look "at" it from any "outside". That way there is no way to compare the size of it, why you could probably say, the universe is infinitely small. There is a mathematical smallest size, called the Planck-Size. That is just where space ends to be space, so there is no inside. As simple as that. You don't need to invent any kind of god to think about those things.
159281
Take into consideration the billions of stars in this galaxy. Then take into consideration the billions of galaxies in the local cluster. Then take into consideration the billions of clusters in the local supercluster. Then take into consideration the billions of superclusters in the local segment of the wall. Then take into consideration the billions of segments in the Great Wall. Then take into consideration the billions of walls in the Universe. It's even possible there's more than one universe! \n\nWhat do you believe? I think there is life out there. But are they sentient and advanced? Maybe. Maybe not.
449942
As far as we know, the only "wall" is the event horizon of the observable universe, the events beyond it from our point of observation are too far away to have their light reach us given the age of the universe. This "wall" of observation is approximately spherical (mod the local curvature) and is continually expanding at the speed of light. Every observation point in the universe has its own event horizon/observable universe.\nOtherwise, there is no evidence to think that the universe is anything but infinite. Recent observations of the cosmic microwave background give us information that the cosmology of the universe is flat, ie. planar. This does not tell us whether the universe is compact or not. The only other types of cosmologies that agreed with Einstein's equations were spherical and hyperbolic.\nFor more information, see the source.
720625
the boundaries of the universe are a snow-globe. we exist in the snow globe of something much larger then ourselves. the stars are just the pieces of glitter that float when you shake it and then fall. the billions of years in our universe is just a few seconds in the life of someone who shook it up and now watches the snow fall.
264754
Think of the universe as a giant bubble. Outside the bubble is nothing. nothing exists. no space. no time. Even though there is an edge to the universe, you cant reach it. If you started at the earth and went in a straight line. you would eventually come back to the earth. Also, we are not the only universe. there are other bubles. too. they are in the same nothing as ours. But you could not travel to other universes.
861518
Nobody can answer your second part, if they try its just theory. They know it, I wont try to explain it either. \nIts against all logical thinking to just say..."the universe isnt expanding into something..", it has to be though what nobody knows. A ballon is a very good way to describe this motion, but still can't explain what "it" pushes into.\nIf there is "nothing" beyond the universe, then are we inside of some containment? \nThe idea that there is an end has still not been taken out of the equation...(Jan 21, 2002 Steven Haking lecture on Alternate Times @ Cambridge), he states that since we see into the universe more and more with technology, we see motion and activity as a guage that can tell us timelines of occurrences of the past, and can calculate distances and measure the speed at which these activities take place. And so he goes on to say that if given these calculations are correct, we can measure the entire universes' movement and therefore determine with some confidence where the edge would be, or should be. But, he said, so far we cant find an edge, though if we did, in all probability the universe is pushing itself into another adjacent universe.\nIf it were to be found someday that our universe has an edge, and theres a chance to peer past it....he says, then at least "containment" theory is off the table.
246282
I don't know why there are so many Cosmic Ridlles like Aether and Curvature of Time and even worse Space; Who does really understand it. And how can they play the fiddle in Space That is my Riddle!
397592
The universe has no discernible edge, but neither is it infinitely large.\n\nThis is because the universe has non-euclidian geometry.\nEssentially this means that parallel lines will meet at infinity. Crazy huh?\nIf you keep going in a straight line long enough you will eventually come back to your starting point.\nThink of it as if the universe is a balloon. If you walk in a straight line along the balloon's surface, you will travel all the way around the balloon and come back to your starting point. Then just imagine that the balloon is expanding.\nThe balloon (our universe) gets bigger. But with the universe, it is not expanding INTO anything.\n\nAre you an advanced physics student?\nIf so, read about Einstein's Theory of General Relativity (With loads of lovely maths :) ) to gain more insight.
747259
To find out whether there is an end or an edge to the universe we first need to know what is the shape of the universe.\n\nMost astronomers would like to know the shape of the universe too! There are three general possibilities. First, like your balloon, the universe might have what we call positive curvature, like a sphere. In this case, which we call a "closed" universe, the universe would be finite in size but without a boundary, just like the balloon. In a closed universe, you could, in principle, fly a spaceship far enough in one direction and get back to where you started from. Closed universes are also closed in time: they eventually stop expanding, then contract in a "Big Crunch." All the geometry that is true on a sphere is also true in a closed unvierse: parallel lines eventually converge (e.g. longitude lines are parallel at the equator, but converge at the poles), large triangles have more than 180 degrees, etc.\n\nThe second possibility is that the universe is flat. This kind of universe you can imagine by cutting out a piece of your baloon material and stretching it with your hands. The surface of the material is flat, not curved, but you can expand and contract it by tugging on either end. Flat universes are infinite in spatial extent, and have no boundaries. Parallel lines are always parallel and triangles always have 180 degrees. Flat universes expand forever, but the expansion rate approaches zero.\n\nFinally, the universe might be "open," or have negative curvature. Such universes are sort of saddle-shaped. They are also infinite and unbounded. Parellel lines eventually diverge, and triangles have less than 180 degrees. Open universes expand forever, with the expansion rate never approaching zero.\n\nWhat determines the shape of the universe is its density (and the Cosmological Constant, a sort of anti-gravity force allowed by General Relativity). It is difficult to figure out what the density of the universe actually is, but it seems that the universe is probably flat.
518729
The answer involves a wormhole in the space time continuum and a secrete plot by sock manufactures.  I could explain it better, but I'd need an overhead projector and a white board.  :P
1113632
What is beyond the borders of the universe?\nIs it truly possible for the universe to go on forever? If there is an end, what’s on the other side?\n \nBefore we can address these questions, we must first define universe.  The word universe denotes all space and everything (matter, energy) contained within it.  The prefix uni means one.  The root verse means word, turn, or whole.  Thus our universe has traditionally been thought to be the one whole of all substance or matter.  Questions regarding our universe persist today.  Does it have a beginning and end, or does it go on forever and ever?  Is it linear or curved?  If it has limits of length or curvature, then what lies beyond the Universe?  If something lies beyond the Universe, then can’t we accurately call that the Universe?\n\nSome lay people and some scientists conceive of the universe as infinite space.  Others define the universe as finite, or limited (perhaps curved), space.  Still others incorporate the elements of matter and/or energy into their definition of the universe, as opposed to the space beyond matter and energy.\n\nGiven these concepts of our universe, some scientists conclude that the “totality of space could be infinite. Shrink an infinite space by an arbitrary amount, and it is still infinite. (Scientific American March 2005).”  \n\nAs to the notion that we live in an ever expanding universe, moving away from every other universe on the fabric of space-time, some scientists are careful to point out that “Andromeda, our nearest large galactic neighbor, is actually moving toward us, not away. Such exceptions arise because Hubble's law describes only the average behavior of galaxies (Scientific American March 2005).”\n\nIn accordance with your supposition that our universe is in another universe, “it has been hypothesized by some scientists that the universe may be part of a system of many other universes, known as the multiverse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universe).” Modern astrophysicists talk about multiple "pocket" universes that branch off from one another.  Stephen Hawking points out that parallel pocket universes can have no effect on a real observer inside a single pocket, so, according to Hawking, they are theoretical baggage that should be eliminated from cosmology, the study of the origins of the universe.\n\nSome string theories define the universe as a three-dimensional space in an invisible space having more dimensions. This is, in essence, a universe within a universe.  Our zone, a “braneworld” could periodically bounce into another parallel braneworld.  This may create what would appear as a Big Bang from one perspective or a Big Bounce of alternating expanding and contracting universe from another perspective.  Such a cataclysmic event is thought to occur 300 billion years from now, resulting in the rearranging and creation of a new universe.\n\nBeyond the borders of the universe, there are other universes moving through a multiverse.  While scientists do not commonly believe that our universe goes on for an unlimited distance, despite its present expansion, they allow for the possibility that the multiverse may go on forever.  If there is an end to our universe, what’s on the other side is called the multiverse.  If there is an end to the multiverse, another term may need to be coined to describe what lay people commonly refer to as infinite space.\n\nSteve\n:-D
235823
I would say that there is no edge. The matter in our solar system is constantly being pulled and shifted by gravity fluxes, and if you were to drift further out you would run into another solar system similar in design to ours, just varying in scale. Because as humans we can only fully understand information that has a start and finish does not mean that there are borders to all things.
193032
The above answers are interesting but, modern physicists speak extensively about 'multiverses'.  So, does one universe end at the edge of another? or, do they 'co-exist' in space and time? OR??????
1082195
The Universe itself doesn't necessarily need something to hold it together, it just is.  \n\nAs far as what's outside the Universe, science cannot answer that question, so it is left to speculation.\n\nMy opinion: the Universe exists within the realm of God, so the spiritual world is outside of it, but that is just an opinion, not fact!
1184658
The universe is incomprehensibly large and, please, don't try to argue it isn't - it is - no person who has ever lived could draw a comparison between the size of the universe and ANYTHING else - there is absolutely NOTHING to measure it against.  I've read articles saying scientists are able to see to the center of the universe now - I'm sorry but that is garbage - the universe is endless.  You can not see the center of something that is endless or, infinite in size.\nI'm not perfect, I admit there may be flaws in my logic so, please, help me learn if you think you have something to add.\nSince the universe is never ending, the odds are minuscule there are no other sentient beings anywhere.  I can't even begin to comprehend how minuscule - in fact, I doubt they can be calculated - if the universe is endless they can not be.\nThis leads me to believe there are aliens in the universe.  It's possible that aliens are here and have been here for a long, long time - but it's also possibly they've never been here.  \nWhat would an alien look like?  There is no way of knowing.