You mean the whole universe, or just the bit the Greens were bringing up? 

I find the universe fascinating.  Both the fractalilty and the temporal and spatial scales processes occur. 

Like one star stripping matter from another over millions or years/km.  Or an entire galaxy slowly spiralling into the central black hole.  It's mind boggling, huge, ancient.

By comparison we are tiny, fleeting things.

I always wonder, when they say that the universe is expanding, what they think it is expanding into i.e., if the universe were a balloon being inflated in a box, what is the box?

Geektastic:

 

I always wonder, when they say that the universe is expanding, what they think it is expanding into i.e., if the universe were a balloon being inflated in a box, what is the box?

 

This is something I find interesting too.  As I understand it we have observed objects within the universe moving further apart and from that we infer that the universe is expanding. 

But we haven't/can't observe an outer limit of the universe, so there isn't really a case for saying the universe as a whole is expanding?

It also seems the universe has a general property of aggregation. 

Loose matter into solar systems, solar systems into nebula, nebula into galaxies.  It's like dust-bunny formation on the cosmic scale. 

Even the galaxies are slowly aggregating into central black holes.

Will the black holes eventually also aggregate until there is just one big black hole, which eventually becomes unstable and explodes to start the cycle again.

Yes, I do wonder what the view would be like if I could sit at a table at the Restaurant At The End Of The Universe and look out of the window!

Just stay away from any black stunt cars!

Geektastic:

 

I always wonder, when they say that the universe is expanding, what they think it is expanding into i.e., if the universe were a balloon being inflated in a box, what is the box?

 

Try to imagine a two dimensional universe that is on the surface of that balloon. The balloon is inflating but from the perspective of that two dimensional universe, it is not expanding into anything it is just that the universe is getting bigger.

jpoc:

 

Geektastic:

 

I always wonder, when they say that the universe is expanding, what they think it is expanding into i.e., if the universe were a balloon being inflated in a box, what is the box?

 

 

Try to imagine a two dimensional universe that is on the surface of that balloon. The balloon is inflating but from the perspective of that two dimensional universe, it is not expanding into anything it is just that the universe is getting bigger.

 

I think what he means is if right now the universe was X big, what exists 2 feet outside that?

There are billions of stars inside billions of galaxies, how can all that emanate from one dot, i.e. the Big Bang Theory? Cannot comprehend that

tdgeek:

 

There are billions of stars inside billions of galaxies, how can all that emanate from one dot, i.e. the Big Bang Theory? Cannot comprehend that

 

A Nuclear explosion starts from a small spot and a chain reaction ......boom.

MikeB4:

 

tdgeek:

 

There are billions of stars inside billions of galaxies, how can all that emanate from one dot, i.e. the Big Bang Theory? Cannot comprehend that

 

 

 

 

A Nuclear explosion starts from a small spot and a chain reaction ......boom.

 

yes, but isn't that energy? Splitting atoms, yes, maybe your right. But the volume of hard matter that exists is incomprehensible, from a teeny weeny dot. Maybe the universe was always massive, and the big crunch theory came into play, then once all that matter got so small and dense (but way bigger than a dot) it blew up and the matter expanded once again?

tdgeek:

 

There are billions of stars inside billions of galaxies, how can all that emanate from one dot, i.e. the Big Bang Theory? Cannot comprehend that

 

This is exactly why I believe in the Hebrew texts of the holy unicorn spider.  Only a unicorn with 8 or more legs could be capable of such magic.

But I also believe it has something to do with energy density and other stuff.  It would be nice to travel far enough in to the depths of space to find out exactly what happened though!

tdgeek:

 

MikeB4:

 

tdgeek:

 

There are billions of stars inside billions of galaxies, how can all that emanate from one dot, i.e. the Big Bang Theory? Cannot comprehend that

 

 

 

 

A Nuclear explosion starts from a small spot and a chain reaction ......boom.

 

 

yes, but isn't that energy? Splitting atoms, yes, maybe your right. But the volume of hard matter that exists is incomprehensible, from a teeny weeny dot. Maybe the universe was always massive, and the big crunch theory came into play, then once all that matter got so small and dense (but way bigger than a dot) it blew up and the matter expanded once again?

 

this does it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KYTJ8tBoZ8

MikeAqua:

 

Geektastic:

 

I always wonder, when they say that the universe is expanding, what they think it is expanding into i.e., if the universe were a balloon being inflated in a box, what is the box?

 

 

This is something I find interesting too.  As I understand it we have observed objects within the universe moving further apart and from that we infer that the universe is expanding. 

 

But we haven't/can't observe an outer limit of the universe, so there isn't really a case for saying the universe as a whole is expanding?

 

It also seems the universe has a general property of aggregation. 

 

Loose matter into solar systems, solar systems into nebula, nebula into galaxies.  It's like dust-bunny formation on the cosmic scale. 

 

Even the galaxies are slowly aggregating into central black holes.

 

Will the black holes eventually also aggregate until there is just one big black hole, which eventually becomes unstable and explodes to start the cycle again.

 

No. You can't say anything about what is happening far beyond the edge of the visible Universe.

The current visible Universe is about 45 Billion light years out in all directions.

It is reasonable to assume that conditions are similar somewhat further out than that.

But, at far greater distances, the Universe could be vastly different.

The Universe could be finite and self-contained or it could be infinite.

It is true that all orbits eventually decay.

Over time all local, gravitationally bound matter will condense into black holes.

But, we won't be left with just one black hole, because the expanding (and accelerating) Universe will keep that from happening.

A few years ago it was discovered that black holes should emit radiation. This takes mass from the black hole. (see Stephen Hawking, Hawking Radiiation, Jacob Beckenstein and others)

In around a Googol years (1 with 100 zeros after it) even black holes will fade away and all the will be left are occasional particles flying across the Universe.

MikeB4:

 

 

 

this does it

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KYTJ8tBoZ8