Problems with an Infinite Universe

I need some clarification. Present thoughts of the universe say that it is infinite, however, how can this be so? Reading Stephen Hawking's book "The Universe in a Nutshell" he says that if the universe is infinite then it presents certain problems such as how come the night sky isn't totally bright (as there would have been enough time for light to get here from every direction)? So I believe the scientists when they say it's infinite, however, how is this so?This message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-20-2004 08:31 PMThis message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-20-2004 08:33 PMThis message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-20-2004 08:34 PM

So, in modern cosmology (as in right now), do we know if the universe is infinite or finite? Or is that still a question waiting to be solved? If infinite, how does that correspond with the Big Bang which gave time a starting point?

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If the universe is infinite, the big bang represents a situation where the density of each point space becomes infinite.

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The universe totally boggles my mind. I find it really hard to comprehend what the Big Bang started from (besides the text book answer -- a singularity). Doesn't there have to be something first that the singularity came from ie: causality? I know that time, space, and matter started with the Big Bang, no problem, but there is always the niggling question of what the hell was there before? and by before I don't mean timewise, I just mean in a logical sequence of events there has to be something before, not necessarily timewise before.Thinking about these things makes me realize that we can't only be in four dimesions, it seems there has to be a more logical explanation to the natural birth of the universe (or non-birth) because the idea that the universe as a huge smooth bubble with either no boundries or definite boundries and in both cases nothing outside of it seems crazy! I can't picture it, what is outside of time/space/matter, a blank sheet? It's no wonder creationists just do away with the thinking and place 'God' there. I don't blame them!This message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-23-2004 03:50 PM

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Is not a sequence of events a good definition of time?

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...That's not what I'm talking about. Space and time are inextricably connected, as Einstein proved with his general theory of relativity. The Big Bang birthed the universe, and the universe is all the space-time there is (that we know). So, one cannot say "what happened before the Big Bang, because time-wise, there was no before, there was no time... So, what I'm saying is that causality still should hold true. For the Big Bang to happen something had to cause it, didn't it? I would think so.

We don't know for sure how or why these atoms pop into existance though, at least I don't think we have an answer so far. So, you can't really say yet with assurance that there is no cause for it.This message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-24-2004 11:03 AMThis message has been edited by Mission for Truth, 06-24-2004 11:05 AM

Haha, thanks Ned, build me up by comparing me to Einstein then break me down! Haha. Sorry, but when I read that I actually did laugh out loud.

Cool, thanks for the link Garf, I'll check that out... If you find anything more on that subject please drop me a line in this thread.

That link was really interesting. It certainly helps clear up a lot of issues.

Maybe an infinite universe could work by going down to the size of a quark which is universe-size for some other very small thing, and so on. lol.

lol..