3 Interesting Theories About What lies beyond the observable Universe

One of the most mysterious questions we still have no ‘right’ answer for

Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the observable universe? The observable universe is the region of space that we can see from Earth, or from any other point in space. It is defined by the distance that light has traveled since the big bang, about 13.8 billion years ago. But what exists outside this cosmic horizon? Is there anything out there, or is it just empty darkness?

In this article, we will explore some of the possible scenarios for what lies beyond the observable universe, and how they relate to the nature and origin of the cosmos. We will also discuss whether we could ever reach or see what lies outside our observable patch of the universe, and what challenges and mysteries we would face along the way.

The observable universe is a vast and mysterious place, full of wonders and secrets that we can barely comprehend. But it is not all there is. There may be more to reality than meets the eye. Let’s find out what lies beyond the observable universe.

What is the observable universe?

The observable universe is the region of space that we can see from Earth, or from any other point in space. It is defined by the distance that light has traveled since the big bang, about 13.8 billion years ago. This means that the observable universe has a radius of about 46 billion light-years (one light-year is the distance that light travels in one year).

However, this does not mean that the observable universe is a fixed sphere. It is actually expanding along with the rest of the universe, as space itself stretches due to the mysterious force called dark energy. This means that every day, we can see a little bit more of the universe than we could before.

But this also means that there are parts of the universe that we can never see, no matter how long we wait or how powerful our telescopes are. These are the regions of space that are moving away from us faster than the speed of light, due to the expansion of space. These regions are beyond our cosmic horizon, and they are effectively invisible to us.

What lies beyond the observable universe?

There are several possible answers to this question, depending on how we define the universe and what assumptions we make about its nature and origin. Here are some of the most popular and plausible theories:

• The universe is infinite and flat. This is the simplest and most elegant scenario, based on the current observations and measurements of the curvature and geometry of the universe. If the universe is flat, then it has no edge or boundary, and it extends infinitely in all directions. This means that beyond the observable universe, there are more stars, galaxies, planets, and possibly life forms, just like in our observable patch. However, these regions are so far away from us that we can never communicate with them or detect them in any way.

    First image from James Webb Space  Telescope: galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 Source: Britannica.com

• The universe is finite and curved. This is another possible scenario, based on the idea that the universe has a positive curvature, like a sphere or a torus (a doughnut-shaped surface). If this is true, then the universe has a finite size and volume, but it has no edge or boundary either. Instead, it wraps around itself in a higher dimension, so that if you travel far enough in one direction, you will end up where you started. This means that beyond the observable universe, there are actually copies of our observable patch, repeated infinitely in a fractal pattern. However, these copies are so far away from us that we can never reach them or see them.

    Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

• The universe is part of a multiverse. This is a more speculative scenario, based on the idea that our universe is not unique or special, but just one of many possible universes that exist in a higher-dimensional space called the multiverse. These universes may have different physical laws, constants, and properties than ours, and they may be created by different mechanisms, such as quantum fluctuations or cosmic inflation. Some of these universes may be similar to ours, while others may be radically different. This means that beyond the observable universe, there are other universes that may contain anything imaginable or unimaginable. However, these universes are separated from ours by impassable barriers or membranes, and we can never access them or interact with them.

These are just some of the most popular and plausible theories for what lies beyond the observable universe. There may be other possibilities that we have not thought of yet or that we cannot comprehend with our limited human minds. The truth is that we may never know for sure what exists outside our cosmic horizon unless we find a way to break through it or transcend it somehow.

But until then, we can still marvel at the beauty and mystery of our observable universe and appreciate how lucky we are to live in such a wonderful and diverse place.