Sciency Guys: What is the volume of the universe?

[SphinxnihpS]

...assume it's a sphere.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

42

 

[Malak]

Impossible to know.

 

[schneiderguy]

4/3 * pi * r^3

 

[spidey07]

Infinite. Finite mass, infinite volume.

 

[destrekor]

Volume, as in amount of space that can potentially hold whatever amount of matter?

Going to have to agree with spidey07 - when you factor in black holes, which have an insane density in a small volume (some say infinite density, I don't buy that... something crazy going on regardless), the potential volume is only limited by how much physical matter is actually present.

If you are looking for the amount of regular matter that exists in the universe, that's more feasible, but I have no clue how to figure that out.

 

[sandorski]

11 or 0

 

[Mo0o]

11 or 0

God seems like he a guy that likes the volume at 11

 

[DrPizza]

radius, is 78 billion light years.

So, 4/3 pi (78billion)^3 cubic light years.

 

[Gibson486]

inversely proportional to the current

 

[Metron]

the answer to life the universe and everything... 42

 

[Malak]

radius, is 78 billion light years.

So, 4/3 pi (78billion)^3 cubic light years.

We have no idea what the radius is so you are just guessing.

 

[ElFenix]

i thought it was pancake shaped

(thereby solving the great waffle v. pancake conundrum)

 

[sandorski]

i thought it was pancake shaped

(thereby solving the great waffle v. pancake conundrum)

Having watched Space Week on National Geographic just a week ago, I can say with confidence that we really don't know the shape of the Universe. It appears to us to be spherical, but we have only viewed it from 1 point and have a limited distance which is visible to us.

 

[Mo0o]

Having watched Space Week on National Geographic just a week ago, I can say with confidence that we really don't know the shape of the Universe. It appears to us to be spherical, but we have only viewed it from 1 point and have a limited distance which is visible to us.

What did it say about whether we're at the center or not? I would imagine we're off to one side. In that case, does that mean we can see to the "edge" while looking in one direction while still looking at "stuff" when looking in another?

 

[Train]

Having watched Space Week on National Geographic just a week ago, I can say with confidence that we really don't know the shape of the Universe. It appears to us to be spherical, but we have only viewed it from 1 point and have a limited distance which is visible to us.

Ya but gravity gives us a lot of clues, similar to how they can tell a star has planets even though we cant see the planets themselves

 

[Leros]

> 0

 

[sandorski]

What did it say about whether we're at the center or not? I would imagine we're off to one side. In that case, does that mean we can see to the "edge" while looking in one direction while still looking at "stuff" when looking in another?

I don't know all the details, but I would think it's hard to know that as well. I mean, if we can't see to the furthest extent, who knows what exists beyond that?

 

[Mo0o]

I don't know all the details, but I would think it's hard to know that as well. I mean, if we can't see to the furthest extent, who knows what exists beyond that?

ya, I guess I was just thinking that if they can somehow guess at the radius, they might know where we are

 

[Malak]

ya, I guess I was just thinking that if they can somehow guess at the radius, they might know where we are

There isn't any method to make an appropriate guess. We don't know enough nor have the capability of making any kind of informed guess at such a thing.

 

[Mo0o]

There isn't any method to make an appropriate guess. We don't know enough nor have the capability of making any kind of informed guess at such a thing.

Just skimmed through an article on Space.com about it. Looks like they based current measurements on the patterns inthe cosmic microwave radiation. Def not prefect but I guess this is the best method we have currently

 

[Yeem]

The edge of the universe is a kind of holographic storage of all the information in the universe. As are the surfaces of black holes.

http://www.astroengine.com/?p=3189
http://spatialtheory.wordpress.com/...gram-projected-from-the-edge-of-the-universe/
http://www.sentientdevelopments.com/2009/01/our-holographic-universe.html

Just linked some random stuff on the subject. I saw it in "Through the Wormhole", docu hosten by Morgan Freeman (gotta love his voice).

I don't find the premise of us existing on the surface of the edge of the universe far fetched at all. In fact, it's how I now see the universe. What all this means is not something I'm going to speculate on.

EDIT: It's possible the "size" of the universe doesn't even exist. The human concept that is size may be complete bull.

 

[Martin]

i thought it was pancake shaped

(thereby solving the great waffle v. pancake conundrum)

They're both wrong - the correct answer is "crepe".

 

[NetWareHead]

The answer is in the Bible

 

[Malak]

EDIT: It's possible the "size" of the universe doesn't even exist. The human concept that is size may be complete bull.

The human perception of shape might not even apply.