: A common misconception is that the universe expands into something. In reality, space itself is stretching ; it doesn't need "empty room" to grow into. 3. The Multiverse and "Super" Universes
: Measurements suggest the universe is "flat" like an endless sheet of paper. This implies it may be infinite in extent , with no physical edge at all. 2. Beyond the Fabric of Space-Time
Some modern theories suggest our entire universe is just one "bubble" in a much larger sea. Beyond the universe
: In this model, if you travel in one direction long enough, you eventually end up back where you started . There is no "outside" because the fabric of space-time itself is all that exists.
The observable universe is a sphere around Earth containing everything we can currently see. Because light has a speed limit, we can only see objects whose light has had time to reach us since the Big Bang (about 13.8 billion years ago). : A common misconception is that the universe
: Our universe could be an isolated "island" floating in a higher-dimensional "super-universe". What's Beyond The Observable Universe?
When asking "what lies beyond the universe," the answer depends on how you define the "universe" itself. Scientists generally split this into three distinct concepts: what is beyond our sight, what is beyond the physical fabric of space, and what might exist as a "super" structure. 1. Beyond the Observable Universe The Multiverse and "Super" Universes : Measurements suggest
: This theory proposes that infinite other universes exist, perhaps with different laws of physics.