The infinity of the Universe is one of the most complex topics in science. At this point, we have no clues about the size and shape of the Universe. We don’t know where it began and where it will end. The certainty of an infinite Universe remains elusive.
However, researchers are studying the boundaries of the Universe. The possibility of the Universe being infinite or having an end depends on the characteristics and physical properties that we can determine. This includes its shape, size, and ultimately, the observable range.
The shape and size of the Universe may be relative to each other. As it has been a hot topic for centuries, cosmologists have speculated that the Universe could have three conceivable shapes. The inflationary thinking suggests that these shapes depend on the curvature of our space. Firstly, the Universe could be simply flat, without curvature and infinite. Secondly, it could have a saddle-like shape with negative curvature and be infinite. The third and final theory suggests that it could be compact, having a sphere-like shape and also being infinite.
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John Mather, the Chief Scientist of the James Webb Space Telescope at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Nobel laureate in cosmology, suggests that through observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation, we can determine that the shape of the Universe is flat, without curvature, and infinite, and it remains as it has been since the occurrence of the Big Bang. Mather compares the shape of the Universe to an endless sheet of paper. He further states that in any direction we go, the appearance of the Universe will not change, representing a boundless perspective.
The observable size of the Universe extends up to 46.5 billion light-years in all directions. The diameter of the Universe, based on current calculations, is approximately 93 billion light-years. The age of the Universe is also a key factor in determining its observable edge. It took 13.8 billion light-years for the first light to reach us, which is equivalent to the age of the Universe. Since its birth, the Universe continues to expand and seems to be accelerating. Today, the estimated observable edge of the Universe is about 46.5 billion light-years away from us.
Measuring the Universe and what we know so far Galaxies within the space of the Universe range from 200 billion to 2 trillion. According to the European Space Agency, each estimated galaxy has an average of about 100 billion stars. These numbers are the result of numerous studies, including the cosmic distance ladder and observational measurements.
With research primarily relying on observations and physical estimations, there is no definitive evidence to conclude whether the Universe is finite or infinite. Additionally, there are still unobserved regions of the Universe for which data is currently unattainable. It may take further research, many years, and additional instruments to accurately determine whether the Universe has an end or not.
Source: ScienceTimes.