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Is the universe in an eternal cycle?

Theokretus April 08, 2021 at 15:49 3550 views 10 comments
Is the universe eternally expanding from a singularity and then gravitationally contracting into another (or the same one in a different shape)? It is claimed the universe as we know it should have already begun to contract yet the observable matter around us is still exelerating. Assuming our greatest mathematicians have not miss calculated the massive forces at work this could mean matter we observe is being pulled by the gravity of matter out view.
Alternatively we may have originated from one of many singularities in the universe, there is after all a singularity at the centre of every black hole. Do you think our universe is following a uniform cycle from a single point, was our big bag one of many in a universe with alot more going on than we can see or could our universe (its contents) be experiencing many big bangs while still keeping in a cycle of single much bigger bang at its ending and beggining?

Comments (10)

Zophie April 08, 2021 at 16:00 #520213
This is impossible to answer and I'm not sure what discoveries the mathematicians would have to make about cosmology that we didn't already know.
Ying April 08, 2021 at 16:35 #520227
Hi there.

Its possible that we're living in an oscilating universe sure, but that's just one of many possibilities. Its also possible the universe ends with a big crunch, if it happens to collapse in on itself, or if it doesn't collapse but keeps on expanding, it could possibly end in a big rip or the heat death. Who knows. Fun to think about, but impossible to prove empirically for obvious reasons.
As for singularities at the heart of black holes, yeah that's possible too. It might not be a singularity but a fuzzball or some sort of degenerate matter for all we know. Again, hard to prove empirically for, again, obvious reasons.

:smile:
T Clark April 08, 2021 at 17:14 #520250
Quoting Theokretus
Is the universe eternally expanding from a singularity and then gravitationally contracting into another (or the same one in a different shape)? It is claimed the universe as we know it should have already begun to contract yet the observable matter around us is still exelerating. Assuming our greatest mathematicians have not miss calculated the massive forces at work this could mean matter we observe is being pulled by the gravity of matter out view.


It is my understanding that current knowledge and theory indicate that there is not enough matter in the universe to stop or reverse the observed expansion. Based on that, our universe will expand forever. That doesn't mean they won't change their minds later.
James Riley April 08, 2021 at 18:02 #520284
Quoting T Clark
That doesn't mean they won't change their minds later.


:100: :up:

I always try to chase things to their extreme and have concluded that it, and more (and less) than we comprehend, is all correct, and not, at the same time, and not.

But I'm not the guy with the math chops to prove it. I just know it's true, and not. And if they keep crunching the numbers and going back to make sure all they stand on is sound, they'll figure it out some day, and not.

And that, my friend, is why no one likes to talk to me. It just doesn't make any sense. It's futile.
Vince April 08, 2021 at 18:33 #520296
Not sure if this is relevant but I will mention it. Cosmologists have thought for a while that the shape of the universe was flat. A new study hints at a spherical shape instead.
https://www.universetoday.com/143956/new-research-suggests-that-the-universe-is-a-sphere-and-not-flat-after-all/
Vince April 08, 2021 at 18:41 #520300
Does it mean that the universe can't expand indefinitely?
fishfry April 08, 2021 at 20:53 #520349
This is Penrose's idea of conformal cyclic cosmology. It's a purely speculative idea that nobody takes too seriously, but many of Penrose's bad ideas are better than most people's good ones.

deletedmemberrw September 15, 2021 at 18:24 #595283
Could be. You see cycles everywhere so maybe it applies to the Universe itself. I hope it doesn't, that would be boring to say the least.
180 Proof September 16, 2021 at 01:19 #595534
Philofile September 16, 2021 at 02:01 #595561