We see the starry sky constantly. Cosmos seems mysterious and immense, and we are only a tiny part of this vast world, mysterious and silent.
All life, mankind has been asking different questions. What is there outside of our galaxy? Is there anything outside space? And does space have a boundary? Even scientists have been pondering these issues for a long time. Is space infinite? This article provides information that scientists currently have.
Borders of the infinite
It is believed that our solar system was formed as a result of the Big Bang. It happened due to the strong compression of matter and tore it up, scattering gases in different directions. This explosion gave birth to galaxies and solar systems. It was previously believed that the age of the Milky Way is 4.5 billion years. However, in 2013, the Planck telescope allowed scientists to recalculate the age of the solar system. Now it is estimated at 13.82 billion years.
The most modern technology cannot cover the whole cosmos. Although the latest devices are capable of catching the light of stars distant from our planet for 15 billion light years! It may even be those stars that have already died, but their light still travels through space.
Our solar system is just a small part of a huge galaxy called the Milky Way. The Universe itself contains thousands of such galaxies. And whether space is endless - is unknown ...
The fact that the Universe is constantly expanding, forming more and more cosmic bodies, is a scientific fact. Probably, her appearance is constantly changing, so millions of years ago, as some scientists are sure, she looked completely different than today. And if the universe is growing, then it definitely has boundaries? How many universes exist beyond it? Alas, no one knows this.
Space expansion
Today, scientists say that space is expanding very quickly. Faster than they thought earlier. Due to the expansion of the Universe, exoplanets and galaxies are moving away from us at different speeds. But at the same time, its growth rate is the same and uniform. It’s just that these bodies are at different distances from us. So, the Alpha Centauri, the closest star to the Sun, "runs away" from our Earth at a speed of 9 cm / s.
Now scientists are looking for an answer to another question. What makes the universe expand?
Dark matter and dark energy
Dark matter is a hypothetical substance. It does not produce energy and light, but occupies 80% of the space. Scientists guessed the presence of this elusive substance in space back in the 50s of the last century. Although there was no direct evidence of its existence, there were more and more supporters of this theory every day. Perhaps its composition contains substances unknown to us.
How did the theory of dark matter come about? The fact is that galactic clusters would have collapsed long ago if their mass was only visible to us materials. As a result, it turns out that most of our world is represented by the elusive, unknown substance to us so far.
In 1990, the so-called dark energy was discovered. Indeed, before physicists thought that gravity works to slow down, one day the expansion of the universe will cease. But both teams, which undertook to study this theory, unexpectedly revealed an acceleration of expansion. Imagine throwing an apple into the air and waiting for it to fall, but instead it starts to move away from you. This suggests that the expansion is influenced by a certain force, which was called dark energy.
Today, scientists are tired of arguing about whether the cosmos is infinite or not. They are trying to figure out what the Universe looked like before the Big Bang. However, this question does not make sense. After all, time and space themselves are also endless. So, we will consider several theories of scientists about space and its boundaries.
Infinity is ...
Such a concept as "infinity" is one of the most amazing and relative concepts. It has long been of interest to scientists. In the real world in which we live, everything has an end, including life. Therefore, infinity beckons with its mystery and even some mysticism. Infinity is hard to imagine. But she exists. After all, it is with its help that many problems are solved, and not only mathematical ones.
Infinity and zero
Many scientists are confident in the theory of infinity. However, the Israeli mathematician Doron Selberger does not share their opinion. He claims that there is a huge number and, if one is added to it, the final result will be zero. However, this number lies so far beyond human comprehension that its presence will never be proved. It is on this fact that a mathematical philosophy called "Ultra Infinity" is based.
Endless space
Is it likely that adding the same number together will produce the same number? At first glance, this seems absolutely impossible, but if we are talking about the Universe ... According to scientists' calculations, when we subtract one from infinity, we get infinity. With the addition of two infinities, infinity comes out again. But if you subtract infinity from infinity, most likely, you get a unit.
Ancient scholars also wondered whether there is a boundary near space. Their logic was simple and at the same time brilliant. Their theory is expressed as follows. Imagine that you have reached the edge of the universe. They extended a hand beyond her border. However, the scope of the world has moved apart. And so endlessly. It is very difficult to imagine. But it is even more difficult to imagine what exists abroad, if it really is.
Thousands of worlds
This theory says that the cosmos is infinite. It probably has millions, billions of other galaxies that contain billions of other stars. Indeed, if you think broadly, everything in our life begins all over again - films follow one after another, life ending in one person begins in another.
In world science, today the concept of a multicomponent Universe is considered generally accepted. But how many universes exist? None of us know this. In other galaxies, completely different celestial bodies may be located. These worlds are dominated by completely different laws of physics. But how to prove their presence in an experimental way?
This can only be done by detecting the interaction between our universe and others. This interaction occurs through some wormholes. But how to find them? One of the latest assumptions of scientists is that such a hole is right in the center of our solar system.
Scientists suggest that if the cosmos is infinite, somewhere on its expanses is a double of our planet, and possibly the entire solar system.
Another dimension
Another theory is that the dimensions of the cosmos have limits. The thing is that we see the nearest galaxy (Andromeda) as it was a million years ago. Even further means even earlier. Not space is expanding, space is expanding. If we can exceed the speed of light, go beyond the border of space, then we will fall into the past state of the universe.
And what is beyond this notorious border? Perhaps another dimension, without the space and time that our consciousness can only imagine.
"Journey to the edge of the universe"
This film was shot in 2008. High-quality graphics will show you our solar system, as well as the entire galaxy and even the space beyond. The distance the film takes viewers is hard to imagine. You will see unusual and mysterious phenomena that occur in space.
“Journey to the Edge of the Universe” is one of the best documentaries about space.