Is there a lining to our Universe?

In summary, the question "Is there a lining to our Universe?" explores the concept of whether the universe has boundaries or edges. It delves into various scientific theories and models, including the shape of the universe, cosmic inflation, and the nature of space-time. The discussion emphasizes the complexity of understanding the universe's structure and whether it is infinite or finite, ultimately highlighting the ongoing quest in cosmology to uncover the fundamental characteristics of our universe.
  • #1
Andre55
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TL;DR Summary
Why does our universe have a limited capacity for mass?
I was wondering if someone could answer my question. I know I may be dumb but I don't really understand why our universe has a limited capacity for mass. If I remember correctly black holes occur when concentration of mass causes a hole in spacetime. I don't really understand I guess how space time could fail. I'm sorry if this question makes no sense.
 
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  • #2
What makes you think our universe has a limited capacity for mass?
Where did you read this?
What does this have to do with black holes?

It is not spacetime that's is failing, it is simply our understanding of what happens in the presence of extreme gravity that fails.
 
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  • #3
Andre55 said:
TL;DR Summary: Why does our universe have a limited capacity for mass?

I was wondering if someone could answer my question. I know I may be dumb but I don't really understand why our universe has a limited capacity for mass. If I remember correctly black holes occur when concentration of mass causes a hole in spacetime. I don't really understand I guess how space time could fail. I'm sorry if this question makes no sense.
It's not a dumb question, but sounds to me like a question arising from some popular science overly simplistic version of the General Theory of Relativity (GR). As such, the question appears to be based on a misconception of the physics and cannot sensibly be answered.
 
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  • #4
I'm afraid the question makes no sense.

Black holes will occur (loosely speaking) when mass is compressed so far that spacetime is sufficiently curved that no paths into the future lead outwards.
 
  • #5
@Andre55 you need to give a reference for where you are getting these ideas from. None of them look anything like valid physics.
 
  • #6
PeroK said:
It's not a dumb question, but sounds to me like a question arising from some popular science overly simplistic version of the General Theory of Relativity (GR). As such, the question appears to be based on a misconception of the physics and cannot sensibly be answered.
Thanks for clarification that makes more sense. I am not a physicist so popular science media is pretty much my only understanding of physics. The misunderstanding probably arose from there.
 
  • #7
Andre55 said:
Thanks for clarification that makes more sense. I am not a physicist so popular science media is pretty much my only understanding of physics. The misunderstanding probably arose from there.
You could check out Relativity For Poets, which is a freely downloadable book by Ben Crowell, a former moderator here. There's only so far you can go without maths, but this is an honest try. https://www.lightandmatter.com/poets/
 

FAQ: Is there a lining to our Universe?

Is there a physical boundary to our Universe?

Current scientific understanding suggests that the Universe does not have a physical boundary in the traditional sense. The Universe is often described as being infinite or unbounded, meaning it doesn't have edges or a surface. Instead, it may curve back on itself, creating a finite but unbounded space, similar to the surface of a sphere.

What is meant by the "edge" of the Universe?

When scientists refer to the "edge" of the Universe, they are usually talking about the observable Universe. This is the region of space from which light has had time to reach us since the beginning of the Universe. Beyond this observable limit, there may be more Universe, but we cannot see it because the light from those regions hasn't had time to reach us yet.

Is there an end to the Universe?

According to current cosmological models, the Universe does not have an end in the spatial sense. It may continue infinitely or loop back on itself. However, the Universe may have a temporal end, depending on its ultimate fate, which could involve scenarios like the Big Freeze, Big Crunch, or Big Rip.

Can we travel to the edge of the Universe?

Traveling to the edge of the Universe is beyond our current technological capabilities and understanding of physics. The distances are unimaginably vast, and the expansion of the Universe means that regions of space are moving away from us faster than the speed of light, making them unreachable.

What lies beyond the observable Universe?

What lies beyond the observable Universe is one of the biggest mysteries in cosmology. It is possible that the Universe continues with the same structure and properties as the observable part, or there could be entirely different regions with different physical laws. However, since we cannot observe beyond this limit, any theories about what lies beyond remain speculative.

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