Theories Abound - Davy Jones

In a lecture, hosted by Fairfax in May 2012, entitled – A Guide to the Universe – Nobel laureate, Professor Brian Schmidt outlined his early ambitions.  He wanted, he said, to do something ‘really big’ –  and the biggest challenge he could imagine was - Measuring the universes’ past so he could understand its future!   

Professor Schmidt is also reported to have responded when asked the question – “ Where is the universe expending to?” – with the answer – “Into the future.”

Remarks such as this generate speculative thoughts; ideas of the ‘past’ and ‘future’ – of ‘beginnings’ and ‘endings’, are undeniably fertile ground for the inquisitive mind. 

This same type of question has arisen in the past  at Macarthur Astronomical Forum sessions, for example  – ‘where did the universe begin?’  To which the general response seems to be – ‘everywhere – all around us or that is a question that has no real answer.’  Such responses, in my humble view, may not be quite correct!

Whilst a 2D or 3D vision of the universe is perhaps the more common, (understandably) human view – I suggest, as Brian Schmidt indicated, the 4^th dimension – TIME – is vital when clarifying remarks relating to ‘aspects of the origin of the universe.’ 

Therefore – rather than seeking a 'physical location’ – which would be patently wrong – instead, the answer to - where did the universe begin – should simply be – at least 14 billion light years ago.

Similarly – the debate persists regarding the ‘shape of the universe’.  With a little research, one quickly discovers a number of ‘possible models’ – often diagrammatically represented in mind-bending ‘Escheresk – matrix detail’ (see M.C.Escher). 

Again though, in reality, it is not too difficult to visualize a realistic cosmos model – taking all four dimensions into account – as starting from a ‘point’ and growing or expanding exponentially over billions of years into a ‘bell-like shape’. This bell-like structure is - one must remember - countless light years across.

Imagine, if possible, looking down the bell of this ever-growing cosmic trumpet.  Again – TIME – is an indispensable factor and an essential element of this model. 

From my simplistic point of view, one could take a 2D slice across this trumpet-like representation of the universe at any point in the past 14 billion years.  The resulting ‘slice’ would reveal the exact state - stage – and extent of the universe at that exact point in ‘time’.  Add and overlay slice upon ever-widening slice over millennia and one eventually arrives at today’s complex cosmic arrangement. 

The only question remaining then is – what lies ahead?   Ahh – more questions; more musings.  Comments and other thoughts are always welcome ;-)