Does the universe end at all?If it ends then what is it at its edge?So it must be expanding ,@ whose expense?
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.
344481
well let us take a "logical" look....the big bang says that there was nothing, then something, and now everything is expanding away.  So how did things get farther away than time has permitted?  Hmmm...kind of a hole in the theory.
410246
Well, this is uncertain. I will explain it as it is currently understood. There are three possibilities based on relativity and the Standard Model. There are three types of expansion depending on the mass-energy density of the universe - open, flat and closed.\n\nIn an open universe, expansion will continue and will actually increase with time. This is because there is not enough mass and energy in the universe to pull it back in.\n\nIn a flat universe, the universe will continue to expand, but expansion will begin to slow at a certain point and as time approaches infinity the expansion will stop. Of course, since infinity means forever, the expansion will continue but slow down constantly, little by little.\n\nIn a closed universe, there is enough mass and energy to cause a collapse of the universe, known as the "big crunch."\n\nAnyway, current theory holds that we live in a flat universe and that inflation will continue forever, as mentioned.\n\nOh. It expands into nothing - as in before the universe is there, there is nothing there.
800785
Ah yes, people like to give mumbo jumbo bullshiet answers to this question to confuse you further.\n\nThe thing is, we really have no idea. This is half the reason the answer is so confusing.\n\nScientists, like myself, have defined the universe as everything and like to say it isn't expanding into anything because, quite frankly, they don't know what's going on and it's easier to just define the universe as that for the time being. I don't know, neither does anyone else.\n\nFrom recent science, we know that the universe is absolutely finite, therefore it's size is increasing; it is getting larger. This can also be seen by looking at microwave radiation maps of the universe.\n\nSo then, what is it expanding into? Well, if ANYONE could answer this question, they would probably go down in history as greater than even people like Einstein, Newton, Galileo...but the reality is, we don't know. All answers to this question are purely spectical and usually formed to fit a belief system that has been adapted from that person.\n\n\nPersonally, it's probably expanding into more space, which probably contains an indefinite number of universes and extends infinitely.\n\nBut that is only my personal view. Just like all other views.
202449
If you're asking about an end to our universe, there's not a single person anywhere who knows the answer. Period.\n\nGod is spelled B-I-G B-A-N-G\nPBrax@netscape.com
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.
270562
This has been asked maybe 137 times but instead of researching, please, keep asking.  The latest research shows that it is expanding faster than ever.  So it will probably keep going.  There is no 'edge' to the galaxy and nobody understands why.  I personally think it has a finite size but it is expanding at the speed of light.
446086
the cosmos has an end... every star and galaxy will have an and so the universe will end someday and someday.. look on discovery science for details
1059228
If the universe is everything, then what is it expanding into?\n\nBefore we can address that question, we must first define universe.  \n\nThe word universe denotes all space and everything (matter, energy) contained within it.  The prefix uni means one.  The root verse means word, carnate message, meaningful substance, 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 “\n\nAndromeda, 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\nIf the universe is everything, then what is it expanding into?  It seems that our universe is all matter, space, and energy that we can perceive in this closed system.  However, that does not mean that there is not additional matter, space, and energy outside our universe.  In other words, there are probably other universes.  Therefore, the zone that we call our universe (or braneworld) may be moving through or expanding into other universes (or braneworlds).  In sum, all universes may be moving through a multiverse.\n \nSteve\n:-D
1186033
There is only one universe, and to say it is expanding actually refers to the fact that the solar systems, galaxies, etc are all spreading apart from one another.  If you believe int he big bang theory, them think of yourself in one VERY slow explosion spreading out from that central core.  \n\nSo I guess to answer your question, it is expanding into itself.
472941
There\nIs\nNo\nMap\nOf\nThe\nUniverse.\n\nThe universe is, in theory, an infinite size. Meaning it has no end or beginning, kind of like American Idol or Myspace.
1094356
It means that we can measure the size of the universe, but if you tried to approach an "edge" of the universe, all you would do would be to extend it. Wherever you go, the universe goes with you, so it is unbounded. You cannot go "outside" the universe.
10099
Just supose that the universe end in some point, that has a boundary. What would be outside? Nothing? And... what is between Mars and the Earth? Also nothing. The universe is... "the nothing", and never ends. Anyway, and suposing that you forget the relativity theory and you want to know where is the star/planet/thing that is farest from the "centre", you can say that the radius of the universe is less or equal to the speed of light times the age of the univers.
116835
Here's the flaw in your logic. You think that the universe has to be in something else to expand. The Universe is literally being created more and more. By this I mean the volume of real estate in reality is growing. There doesn't have to be something else that it's growing within. It sets it's own barriers and those barriers mark the current circumference of existence.\nBy the way, science does not respect theories. It respects laws.
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
122538
Currently the universe is expanding. However, we are not sure yet whats going to happen in the future. This is because it is possible that the universe will constantly keep on expanding as it is right now. Or it is also possible that the gravitational pull of the universe will be so huge that it will collapse under its own gravity. Right now, we are almost at a point of intersection between these 2 cases and in a few thousand years we'll know exactly where this is going. Ofcourse, you and I wont be around to witness that, but astronomically its a small amount time.
5491
What you really mean to ask is, if the Universe is expanding, a phenomenon that by every conceivable standard of measurement and observation is universally (pun definitely intended) accepted by the scientific community to indeed be fact....\n\n...then what is the Universe exanding into????\n\nThe spooky thing is that no one knows. Science, with \nthe help of the Hubble Telescope has been able to see\nonly about 13 Billion light years out but the Universe itself is estimated to be about 14-15 Billion years old.\n\nThe universe is expanding into the vast emptiness of \nspace. Some scientists have speculated that there may be other universes that extend far beyond our own \nbut its mere speculation. NASA hopes that the next generation of Space Telescope technology scheduled to be launched in 2011, will have the capcity to observe  the very edge of the universe about 15 Billion years away and the very first light created in the aftermath of the Big Bang.