What lies outside the universe?

Theories About What Lies Outside The Observable Universe!

Approximately 13.75 billion years ago, our current universe came into existence. Shortly after this, light from the early universe began to travel and spread throughout the cosmos. At the same time, the universe itself started to expand. However, the rate of expansion slowed down after the initial eruption, but it has been steadily increasing since then due to the influence of dark energy. In essence, the cosmos has been growing at an ever-increasing rate since its creation. For centuries, physicists and mathematicians have been studying the nature of the universe, attempting to unravel its mysteries. However, some scientists take it a step further by contemplating what lies beyond the boundaries of our universe. Is it possible that there is something else beyond our own universe? Are there other universes or worlds whose existence we can only speculate about? This could very well be the case. Here, we present five theories about what this "something" beyond our universe could be and provide clues that support these various theories.

Cosmologists have estimated that the oldest photons we can observe have traveled roughly 45 to 47 billion light years since the occurrence of the big bang. This indicates that the observable universe spans approximately 93 billion light years, give or take a few light years. Within this vast expanse, we can find all recorded quarks, quasars, stars, planets, nebulae, black holes, and any other celestial bodies that have been detected by telescopes. It is important to note that the observable universe solely consists of the light that has had sufficient time to reach us. As a result, the observable universe continues to expand over time. However, it is essential to understand that the universe itself is finite. This finite amount is often referred to as the Hubble volume, named after the telescope that has provided us with the most distant views of the universe to date. We are confined to interacting with this observable universe and will never be able to observe beyond its limits. Nevertheless, astronomers believe that beyond the Hubble volume, there could exist an invisible space that extends infinitely. This space may contain matter, energy, galaxies, and other cosmic elements, distributed in a similar manner to what we observe within the observable universe. Venturing beyond the Hubble volume, we would not only encounter additional planets but also discover other planets that closely resemble our own Earth. If we were to journey far enough, we might come across a solar system where every aspect is identical, except for the fact that you had cereal for breakfast instead of eggs. Furthermore, we might stumble upon a world where you skipped breakfast altogether, or even a reality where you woke up and committed a daring bank robbery. Remarkably, cosmologists suggest that as we travel beyond the boundaries of our universe, we would encounter another Hubble volume that is an exact replica of our own. Within these alternate Hubble volumes, multiple versions of yourself would exist, each reflecting a different set of possible actions. The concept of the universe's infinity is challenging to fully grasp, as it surpasses the limits of human imagination. According to the theory of relativity, objects in close proximity cannot move away from each other at speeds exceeding that of light. However, this limitation does not apply to objects that are incredibly distant from each other, as the space between them expands. In essence, it is not the objects themselves that move faster than the speed of light, but rather the expanding space that causes them to drift apart at tremendous velocities. In order to reach the edge of the observable universe, we would need to develop a method of transportation that surpasses the speed of light. However, most physicists consider this concept to be impossible. Alternatively, we would have to transcend the constraints of space-time through the use of wormholes or warp propulsion, which again, most physicists deem to be unattainable.

In 2008, astronomers made an unexpected discovery. Galactic clusters were found to be moving in the same direction at incredible speeds, surpassing 2 million miles per hour. This peculiar phenomenon, now known as dark flow, was later confirmed by new observations in 2010. Scientists uncovered this phenomenon by studying giant galaxy clusters, which are composed of approximately a thousand galaxies and emit x-rays due to the presence of very hot gas. By observing how x-rays interact with cosmic microwave radiation (CMB), a remnant of the Big Bang, scientists were able to analyze the motion of these galaxy clusters. The scattering of x-rays causes a shift in the temperature of the CMB, a phenomenon called the Sanyev-Zeldovich kinetic effect. This effect, previously unseen in relation to galaxy clusters, was first noticed by a research team led by Alexander Kashlinsky, an astrophysicist at NASA's Godard Space Flight Center. The team examined around 700 clusters located up to 6 billion light-years away, halfway across the universe. To compare the clusters' motion, they used a map of the CMB captured by NASA's Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) satellite. What makes this discovery intriguing is that the motion of these clusters contradicts all existing predictions about the distribution of mass in the universe following the Big Bang.

One potential reason for the existence of large structures outside of the Hubble volume is the gravitational influence they exert. Scientists strongly believe that this gravitational pull originates from beyond our known universe. This implies that the structure of the infinite universe is not uniform beyond our perspective. As for the structures themselves, they could range from massive accumulations of matter and energy to peculiar fault lines that transmit gravitational forces from other universes, known as infinity bubbles. However, discussing phenomena outside the Hubble volume can be misleading, as it is still part of the same universe. The physical laws and constants remain consistent in another version of events. According to an alternative perspective, the expansion of the universe after the Big Bang resulted in the formation of bubbles within the structure of space. Each bubble ceased expanding alongside the rest of space and gave rise to its own universe, complete with its own distinct laws and physical constants. In this scenario, space is infinite, and each bubble is also infinite since a single infinity can contain an infinite number of infinities. Even if one were to penetrate the boundary of one bubble, the space between bubbles would continue to expand indefinitely, making it impossible to reach the next bubble regardless of speed. Another theory proposed by physicist Lee Smolin, known as the theory of fertile universes, suggests that every black hole in our universe triggers the birth of a new universe. Each subsequent universe possesses slightly different physical laws than its predecessor. Smolin's theory implies a form of natural selection for universes, as the laws and physical conditions that lead to the frequent formation of black holes also facilitate the creation of other universes. Conversely, universes that do not produce black holes become extinct. However, it is worth noting that Smolin himself and others have since disproven this theory. There are countless theories regarding parallel universes, but the most widely accepted one today stems from the further development of string theory. This theory involves oscillating membranes, also known as branes, in multiple directions. These rippling membranes exist in the 11th dimension and represent entirely distinct universes. When these ripples intersect, a new universe is born. The effects of this wave motion help explain the observed distribution of matter in our own universe. One intriguing aspect of this theory is the notion that all the gravity we experience in our universe actually originates from another universe in a separate dimension. This concept helps elucidate why gravity appears significantly weaker than other fundamental forces.

Is there a possibility of other unidentified realms existing beyond our known universe? Does the concept of infinity hold true, and if so, to what extent? Are there parallel universes, the manipulation of matter through warping, string theory, membranes, and black holes? Is this merely nonsense, or does it hold some truth? Share your thoughts in the comments section.