Could the Universe Be Collapsing Without Our Knowledge?

In summary, scientists do not claim to know for certain that the universe is collapsing, but they have models that work reasonably well. Testing and improving these models keeps them busy.
  • #1
ONON
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0
Could it be that the universe is collapsing upon us without us yet knowing since the nearest star to us is about four light years away and therefore we have no present way of knowing what has happened during the last four years beyond that nearest star?
 
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  • #2
ONON said:
Could it be that the universe is collapsing upon us without us yet knowing since the nearest star to us is about four light years away and therefore we have no present way of knowing what has happened during the last four years beyond that nearest star?

There could be a huge hippopotamus only four light years from here and we wouldn't know because the light hasn't gotten here yet. It could be bigger than a hundred solar systems.

Cosmology is a mathematical science driven by observational data. They look for the simplest model that gives a good fit to the data.
There are now millions of data-points.
The models give an amazingly close fit and they are astonishingly simple---you only need to plug in a half-dozen or so numbers and run the Friedmann equations (which are so compact they fit on a postit, I used to have them stuck on the side of my monitor.)

It would take an far more complicated model, with arbitrary choices of many many additional parameters, to get one that would both on the one hand fit the observations seen so far, and on the other hand would predict the materialization of a giant hippo, or that would predict that collapse is now in progress and will exhibit itself to us in four years.

Maybe the best answer, Onon, is that scientists make no claim to certain knowledge but they have some rather nice models that work reasonably well. Testing and improving their models keeps them busy. Certain knowledge is not the name of the game.
 
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  • #3
Could it be you didn't just post that and I am hallucinating it? Welcome to the twilight zone.
 
  • #4
Hi Lubuntu,
you and I posted the same minute, it was 1:32 PM my time.
I think you gave a more appropriate answer somehow. The idea is funny.
(Onon may even have been joking---that didn't occur to me.)
 

FAQ: Could the Universe Be Collapsing Without Our Knowledge?

What is the "Unknown universal collapse"?

The "Unknown universal collapse" refers to a hypothetical event in which the entire universe collapses or ceases to exist. It is a concept that has been explored in science fiction and theoretical physics, but has not been observed or proven to occur in reality.

What would cause the "Unknown universal collapse" to happen?

There is no definitive answer to what could cause the "Unknown universal collapse" as it is a purely hypothetical event. Some theories suggest that it could be triggered by a catastrophic event such as a big crunch or a vacuum decay, while others propose that it could be the result of natural processes within the universe.

Is the "Unknown universal collapse" a possibility?

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that the "Unknown universal collapse" is a possibility. It is a purely theoretical concept and there is no scientific proof to support its occurrence. However, as our understanding of the universe continues to evolve, it is always possible that new discoveries could shed light on this concept.

Would the "Unknown universal collapse" affect only our universe?

The "Unknown universal collapse" would theoretically affect the entire universe, not just our own. It is believed that if such an event were to occur, it would have a ripple effect on all galaxies, stars, and planets within the universe.

Can we prevent the "Unknown universal collapse" from happening?

Since the "Unknown universal collapse" is a hypothetical concept, there is no known way to prevent it from happening. However, scientists continue to study and explore the universe in order to gain a better understanding of its workings and potentially uncover ways to mitigate or prevent such catastrophic events.

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