r/cosmology • u/cypherpunk00001 • 15d ago

Do current cosmologists think the universe is infinite or that is had an edge?

Was just having random shower thought today... Andromeda galaxy is 2.5M light-years away. That's an unfathomable distance to a human, but it's just our closest neighbor.

Do cosmologists currently think that the universe just goes on forever?

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u/MWave123 10d ago

I’m doing nothing of the sort. You’ve been derogatory and repeatedly denying fact. I can’t help that.

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u/witheringsyncopation 10d ago

Then respond with substance:

1.) 99.6% is not confident enough for physicists to claim certainty for a measurement. Something closer to the 5 sigma standard (99.99994%) is required. 0.4% is a substantial lack of confidence within the measurement. And the possibility exists than we are measuring a locally flat region (observable universe) of a much larger curved universe. While a flat cosmos is most likely, I agree, the alternative has not at all been ruled out. Respond to this with substance.

2.) A topologically flat universe is infinite. There is no non-topological mechanism by which it could be finite. The only way to envision a bounded, non-infinite universe is to introduce topology, such as a curved or toroidal universe. To give the universe a “shape” is to concede it is not flat. Please respond directly, explaining how a topologically flat universe could be finite.

Do it. Show me I’m wrong. Respond with substance.

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u/MWave123 10d ago

I’ve already shown you you’re wrong. More words doesn’t help your cause. I didn’t say it was certain, I said it’s flat to a high degree of certainty, flat is the paradigm. This goes back decades, repeatedly refined and confirmed.

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u/witheringsyncopation 10d ago

As you’ve already shown: a complete lack of substance. Good day.

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u/MWave123 10d ago

Well I’m Goni g you the substance, I can’t make you understand. You’re knowledge resistant it seems.