The universe consists of all matter, light, and other forms of radiation and energy that have been discovered by man. The universe also consists of everything that man believes to be present in space / time as a result of his theories. This includes the Earth, solar system, stars which includes our sun. Most people believe that the universe is expanding.
In the first half of the 20th century, the name Universe was used to mean the whole spacetime continuum in which we exist, together with all the energy and matter within it. Attempts to understand the Universe in this sense, on the largest possible scales, are made in cosmology, a science that has grown from physics and astronomy. During the second half of the 20th century, the development of observational cosmology, also called physical cosmology, led to a split in the meaning of the word Universe, between observational cosmologists and theoretical cosmologists; where the former (usually) abandon the hope of observing the whole spacetime continuum, the latter retain this hope, attempting to find the most reasonable speculations for modelling the whole of spacetime, despite the extreme difficulty in imagining any empirical constraints on these speculations and the risk of declining into metaphysics.
The terms known universe, observable universe, or visible universe are often used to describe the part of the Universe that we can see or otherwise observe. Those who believe it is impossible to observe the whole continuum may use our universe, referring only to that knowable by human beings in particular.
The most important result of cosmology, the understanding that the universe is expanding, is derived from redshift observations and quantified by Hubble's Law. Extrapolating this expansion back in time, one approaches a gravitational singularity, a rather abstract mathematical concept, which may or may not correspond to reality. This gives rise to the Big Bang theory, the dominant model in cosmology today.
The age of the universe from the time of the Big Bang, was estimated to be about 13.7 billion (13.7 - 109) years, according to NASA's WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe). However, this is based on the assumption that the underlying model used for data analysis is correct. Other methods of estimating the age of the universe give different ages.
A fundamental aspect of the Big Bang can be seen today in the observation that the farther away from us galaxies are, the faster they move away from us. It can also be seen in the cosmic microwave background radiation which is the much-attenuated radiation that originated soon after the Big Bang. This background radiation is remarkably uniform in all directions, which cosmologists have attempted to explain by an early period of inflationary expansion following the Big Bang.
Depending on the average density of matter and energy in the universe, it will either keep on expanding forever or it will be gravitationally slowed down and will eventually collapse back on itself in a "Big Crunch".
Currently the evidence suggests not only that there is insufficient mass/energy to cause a recollapse, but that the expansion of the universe seems to be accelerating and will accelerate for eternity (see accelerating universe). Other ideas of the fate of our universe include the Big Rip, the Big Freeze, and Heat death of the universe theory.
Theories on the Ultimate of the Universe
There is some speculation that multiple universes exist in a higher-level multiverse (also known as a megaverse), our universe being one of those universes. For example, matter that falls into a black hole in our universe could emerge as a Big Bang, starting another universe. However, all such ideas are currently untestable and cannot be regarded as anything more than speculation. The concept of parallel universes is understood only when related to string theory.
Different words have been used throughout history to denote "all of space", including the equivalents and variants in various languages of "heavens," "cosmos," and "world." Macrocosm has also been used to this effect, although it is more specifically defined as a system that reflects in large scale one, some, or all of its component systems or parts. (Similarly, a microcosm is a system that reflects in small scale a much larger system of which it is a part.)
Although words like world and its equivalents in other languages now almost always refer to the planet Earth, they previously referred to everything that exists and still sometimes do (as in "the whole wide world"). Some languages use the word for "world" as part of the word for "outer space", e.g. in the German word "Weltall".
Observable Universe - Size Wikipedia
Cosmic latte - Color of the universe
Astronomers discover complex organic matter in the universe PhysOrg - October 26, 2011
Organic compounds of unexpected complexity exist throughout the Universe. The results suggest that complex organic compounds are not the sole domain of life but can be made naturally by stars.
Endless Void or Big Crunch: How Will the Universe End? Live Science - October 26, 2011
Snapshot from a computer simulation of the formation of large-scale structures in the universe, showing a patch of 100 million light-years and the resulting coherent motions of galaxies flowing toward the highest mass concentration in the center. Not only are scientists unsure how the universe will end, they aren't even sure it will end at all. Several possibilities for the fate of our universe have been bandied about. They tend to have names such as Big Crunch, Big Rip and Big Freeze that belie their essential bleakness. Ultimately, space could collapse back in on itself, destroying all stars and galaxies in existence, or it could expand into essentially an endless void.
The Big Bang: What Really Happened at Our Universe's Birth? Live Science - October 21, 2011
Our universe was born about 13.7 billion years ago in a massive expansion that blew space up like a gigantic balloon. That, in a nutshell, is the Big Bang theory, which virtually all cosmologists and theoretical physicists endorse. The evidence supporting the idea is extensive and convincing. We know, for example, that the universe is still expanding even now, at an ever-accelerating rate.
The first detection of abundant carbon in the early universe PhysOrg - October 6, 2011
A research team of astronomers, has successfully detected a carbon emission line in the most distant radio galaxy known so far in the early universe. Their investigation of the detected carbon line showed that a significant amount of carbon existed as early as 12.5 billion years ago, less than a billion years after the Big Bang. This important finding contributes to our understanding of the chemical evolution of the universe and may provide clues about the chemical nature of humans, who are composed of various elements such as carbon and oxygen.
Telescope snaps stunning 1st photo of cosmos MSNBC - October 3, 2011
After years of planning, construction and assembly, a gigantic observatory billed as the world's most complex array of ground-based telescopes has opened its eyes in South America and captured its first image. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, or ALMA, is now officially open for business high in the Chilean Andes. The huge $1.3 billion radio telescope, a collaboration of many nations and institutions, should help astronomers explore some of the coldest and most distant objects in the universe, researchers said.
Alma radio telescope begins study of cosmic dawn BBC - October 3, 2011
One of Alma's scientific operations astronomers, Dr Diego Garcia, said that the effective switching on of the giant telescope ushered in a "new golden age of astronomy".
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Astronomers Find Largest, Oldest Mass of Water in Universe Live Science - July 23, 2011
Astronomers have discovered the largest and oldest mass of water ever detected in the universe - a gigantic, 12-billion-year-old cloud harboring 140 trillion times more water than all of Earth's oceans combined. "This discovery pushes the detection of water one billion years closer to the Big Bang than any previous find.
The universe may have been born spinning, according to new findings on the symmetry of the cosmos PhysOrg - July 8, 2011
Physicists and astronomers have long believed that the universe has mirror symmetry, like a basketball. But recent findings from the University of Michigan suggest that the shape of the Big Bang might be more complicated than previously thought, and that the early universe spun on an axis.
Dark statistics PhysOrg - March 28, 2011
The hypothetical dark flow seen in the movement of galaxy clusters requires that we can reliably identify a clear statistical correlation in the motion of distant objects which are, in any case, flowing outwards with the expansion of the universe and may also have their own individual (or peculiar) motion arising from gravitational interactions.
Scientists find first evidence that many universes exist PhysOrg - December 19, 2010
By looking far out into space and observing whatÕs going on there, scientists have been led to theorize that it all started with a Big Bang, immediately followed by a brief period of super-accelerated expansion called inflation. Perhaps this was the beginning of everything, but lately a few scientists have been wondering if something could have come before that, setting up the initial conditions for the birth of our universe.
Cosmos may show echoes of events before Big Bang BBC - November 27, 2010
Evidence of events that happened before the Big Bang can be seen in the glow of microwave radiation that fills the Universe, scientists have asserted. Renowned cosmologist Roger Penrose said that analysis of this cosmic microwave background showed echoes of previous Big Bang-like events. The events appear as "rings" around galaxy clusters in which the variation in the background is unusually low.
Early Universe was a liquid: First results from the Large Hadron Collider's ALICE experiment PhysOrg - November 25, 2010
The very early Universe was not only very hot and dense but behaved like a hot liquid.
Dark energy and flat Universe exposed by simple method BBC - November 25, 2010
Researchers have developed a simple technique that adds evidence to the theory that the Universe is flat. Moreover, the method - developed by revisiting a 30-year-old idea - confirms that "dark energy" makes up nearly three-quarters of the Universe.
Dark Energy Measurement Sheds New Light on Universe's Expansion PhysOrg - July 16, 2010
Planck satellite unveils the Universe -- now and then PhysOrg - July 5, 2010
Planck telescope reveals ancient cosmic light BBC - July 5, 2010
This is the extraordinary place where we all live - the Universe. The picture is the first full-sky image from Europe's Planck telescope which was sent into space last year to survey the "oldest light" in the cosmos.
Our universe at home within a larger universe? So suggests wormhole research PhysOrg - April 7, 2010
Immaculate Black Holes Found Near Universe's Conception National Geographic - March 19, 2010
Dark Matter And Dark Energy Make Up 95 Percent Of Universe, Detailed Measurements Reveal Science Daily - November 4, 2009
Precise picture of early Universe supports 'dark matter' theory PhysOrg - November 2, 2009
The universe is beige Telegraph.co.uk - November 2, 2009
The Average Color of the Universe is Beige NASA - November 2, 2009
Stellar blast is record-breaker BBC - October 29, 2009
...a gamma-ray burst from a star that died 13.1 billion light-years away.
Most Distant Object Found; Light Pierced "Dark Age" Fog National Geographic - October 28, 2009
The most distant object yet spied in the universe is the remnant of a star about 13 billion light-years from Earth
that sheds new light on the earliest days of the universe.
Multiplying universes: How many is the multiverse? New Scientist - October 29, 2009
Physicists Calculate Number of Parallel Universes PhysOrg - October 18, 2009
Cataclysmic explosion of a giant star early in the history of the Universe is most distant single object ever detected BBC - April 28, 2009
The Farthest Explosion Yet Measured - 13 billion light years away NASA - April 29, 2009
Most distant object in the universe spotted New Scientist - April 27, 2009
Most Distant Detection Of Water In The Universe Science Daily - April 26, 2009
'Wet' Early Universe: Water Vapor Detected At Record Distance Science Daily - December 19, 2008
Galaxy map hints at fractal universe New Scientist - June 25, 2008
Youngest Supernova in Milky Way Found National Geographic - May 15, 2008
Cosmic 'treasure trove' revealed BBC - March 11, 2008
Nasa space probe measuring the oldest light in the Universe has found
that cosmic neutrinos made up 10% of matter shortly after the Big Bang.
Mysterious Explosion Detected In The Distant Past, Halfway Back To Big Bang Science Daily - January 9, 2008
Unexplained Hole in the Universe
Ancient Star Is Nearly as Old as Universe National Geographic - May 12, 2007
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The universe is a string-net liquid New Scientist - March 16, 2007
Newfound blob is biggest thing in universe National Geographic - July 31, 2006
Structure is 200 million light-years wide, made up of galaxies and gas
The Universe trapped in its own web PhysOrg - April 4, 2006
Superwind discovered spreading Star Dust across the Universe PhysOrg - July 13, 2005
Scientists Ponder Universe's Missing Antimatter National Geographic - July 6, 2005
Early Universe was 'liquid-like' BBC - April 2005
Physicists say they have created a new state of hot, dense matter by crashing together the nuclei of gold atoms.
'Birth cry' of the cosmos heard BBC - June 2004
Over the first million years the music of the cosmos changed
from a bright major chord to a sombre minor one.
Cosmos is a billion years older than thought BBC - May 2004
A readjustment gives the Universe an age of 14.7
instead of 13.7 billion years.
Universe is Finite, "Soccer Ball"-Shaped National Geographic - October 2003
Cosmos is 'shaped like a soccerball' BBC - October 2003
We could be living in a small Universe where space is curved in on itself, rather like a soccerball. More precisely, we may inhabit a dodecahedral cosmos. Dodecahedrons, and similar shapes, have long fascinated mankind.
Plato believed that the Universe was made up of them. Leonardo da Vinci also studied them, as did the great astronomer Kepler, who thought the structure of the Solar System was based on geometrical shapes.
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