I've been watching Stargazing Live on BBC2.

[Fantic]

If the Universe is infinite

Does it mean if i get in my spaceship and head in one direction i will go on forever, without returning to the same starting point. Or does it mean I'll eventualy come back to earth?

[GhostofBolivar]

If the Universe is infinite

Does it mean if i get in my spaceship and head in one direction i will go on forever, without returning to the same starting point. Or does it mean I'll eventualy come back to earth?

The universe is still expanding. Unless you could travel faster than it's rate of expansion, you'd go on forever.

[Pete]

The universe is still expanding. Unless you could travel faster than it's rate of expansion, you'd go on forever.

What if you could travel faster than it's rate of expansion?

What would you hit?

[Beefster]

What if you could travel faster than it's rate of expansion?

What would you hit?

There are a load of theories but no-one really knows AFAIK. You're highly unlikely to hit the 'edge' of the universe though.

In another universe, Hibs have retained the Scottish Co for the last 110 years.

[Fantic]

The universe is still expanding. Unless you could travel faster than it's rate of expansion, you'd go on forever.

What if the universe started contracting back on itself, the 'big crunch' I think they called it.

And you kept going?

[The_Exile]

It's all theories and educated guesses, the best one is that the space the universe is expanding into is infinite, which in itself is hard to get your head around. I think the Universe is expanding faster than the speed of light, therefore unless you could travel faster than the speed of light, you would never hit the edge, if there is an edge, see? easy. :aok:

[DaveF]

I've been watching this with my son and I'm completely and utterly confused \ amazed by the figures and theories they are coming out with.

Still, it's pretty good and the lad now definately wants a telescope for his birthday.

[Ryan91]

I've been watching this with my son and I'm completely and utterly confused \ amazed by the figures and theories they are coming out with.

Still, it's pretty good and the lad now definately wants a telescope for his birthday.


It's a significant investment and I would suggest seeking advice from an amateur astronomer as to what the best telescope to get would be as there are several different designs and each design has it's own benefits and drawbacks.

Would also suggest taking the lad to the Royal Observatory, if he's developed an interest in Astronomy he'll love it.

I've got a keen interest in Physics and Astronomy (so much so that I'm studying the former at Uni) and even I'm amazed at some of the theories proposed.

[McHibby]

I've been loving this show, I am really fascinated by space. Like DaveF, I find some of the figures and distances almost incomprehensible. I like to think I am reasonably clever/well educated, I have a joint honours degree in history and law... but this stuff really fries my brain! When I think about the fact that when I look at a star, I am actually looking back in time because it has taken so long for the light to reach us, it's awe inspiring. And a bit crazy:panic:

But what is even more awe inspiring is Fantic has his own spaceship! Next time I am in Leith can I have a shot? :greengrin

[Pete]

It's all theories and educated guesses, the best one is that the space the universe is expanding into is infinite, which in itself is hard to get your head around. I think the Universe is expanding faster than the speed of light, therefore unless you could travel faster than the speed of light, you would never hit the edge, if there is an edge, see? easy. :aok:

This all sounds silly. If it is expanding then it must have started from something. What can possibly have enough energy to create something like that and how big must this "start-point" have been?

This actually sounds a lot more far-fetched than the other theory.

[Beefster]

I've been watching this with my son and I'm completely and utterly confused \ amazed by the figures and theories they are coming out with.

Still, it's pretty good and the lad now definately wants a telescope for his birthday.

I can't wait until mini-Beefster is old enough to get into stuff like this. It's going to be like I'm 12 again!

[Hibee Ryan]

Taking higher physics means I'm watching this to help get my head around it all. The worst part is that for most questions in Physics there just isn't an explanation yet!

As far as I'm aware the speed of expansion was very very quick at the beginning of the universe then slowed down after I think about a billion years but scientist have discovered that it's started to increase again which has caused a lot of interest in science as it causes a lot more problems than it solves!:aok:

[Twa Cairpets]

This all sounds silly. If it is expanding then it must have started from something. What can possibly have enough energy to create something like that and how big must this "start-point" have been?

This actually sounds a lot more far-fetched than the other theory.

Singularity of all energy and matter, and therefore time. It was both infinitesimally small and infinite at the same time. There's a mind f**** for you :greengrin

[Fantic]

Taking higher physics means I'm watching this to help get my head around it all. The worst part is that for most questions in Physics there just isn't an explanation yet!

As far as I'm aware the speed of expansion was very very quick at the beginning of the universe then slowed down after I think about a billion years but scientist have discovered that it's started to increase again which has caused a lot of interest in science as it causes a lot more problems than it solves!:aok:

What i don't understand is what came before anything?

It couldn't be nothing because nothing can't create anything, for obvious reasons! No physical matter, no boundaries, no physics, no time, just nothing unable to do anything. Because anything at all would not make it nothing.

If this 'nothing' had ever existed, then it would have been eternal!! So that would make what is here, eternal. I think!

[Twa Cairpets]

What i don't understand is what came before anything?

It couldn't be nothing because nothing can't create anything, for obvious reasons! No physical matter, no boundaries, no physics, no time, just nothing unable to do anything. Because anything at all would not make it nothing.

If this 'nothing' had ever existed, then it would have been eternal!! So that would make what is here, eternal. I think!

Time was bound within the singularity, so it was both eternal and of its moment. I think. Everything always has been, whether in the form of energy, matter , dark matter or the potential of any of these as time.

Pass me the brain Medicine please matron.

[CropleyWasGod]

Time was bound within the singularity, so it was both eternal and of its moment. I think. Everything always has been, whether in the form of energy, matter , dark matter or the potential of any of these as time.

Pass me the brain Medicine please matron.

And it's all contained within one single word.

Om.

:agree:

[One Day Soon]

Time was bound within the singularity, so it was both eternal and of its moment. I think. Everything always has been, whether in the form of energy, matter , dark matter or the potential of any of these as time.

Pass me the brain Medicine please matron.

Which sounds awfully like, er, God.

[Twa Cairpets]

Which sounds awfully like, er, God.
Or physics.

[Fantic]

Time was bound within the singularity, so it was both eternal and of its moment. I think. Everything always has been, whether in the form of energy, matter , dark matter or the potential of any of these as time.

Pass me the brain Medicine please matron.

But the big bang couldn't have materialized from nothing. The concept of a true 'nothing' could never have existed. If it had then it would have lasted forever, cos it could never change. So how did the big bang happen.

It's hard to think about something with no beginning or end.

[Twa Cairpets]

But the big bang couldn't have materialized from nothing. The concept of a true 'nothing' could never have existed. If it had then it would have lasted forever, cos it could never change. So how did the big bang happen.

It's hard to think about something with no beginning or end.

That's just the point - it didn't happen from nothing, it happened from everything. How it happened I dont know - there's several hypotheses, but no (as far as Im aware) generally settled detail.

And you're right infinity is a really, really difficult thing to consider

[Hiber-nation]

That's just the point - it didn't happen from nothing, it happened from everything. How it happened I dont know - there's several hypotheses, but no (as far as Im aware) generally settled detail.

And you're right infinity is a really, really difficult thing to consider

Hearts created it.

[LeighLoyal]

They should ask Dr Brian May to do Sky at Night. Top bloke.

[Corstorphine Hibby]

That's just the point - it didn't happen from nothing, it happened from everything. How it happened I dont know - there's several hypotheses, but no (as far as Im aware) generally settled detail.

And you're right infinity is a really, really difficult thing to consider


'How it happened I don't know' is a rare admission from one quoting from the world of physics.

Here was me thinking you Hawkins disciple types knew everything there was to know so therefore God cannot possibly exist.