I know this stuff is real hard to understand. The first hurdle you have to get over is according to science's best guess when the Universe formed (the big bang) is the theory of inflation. In short, inflation means that the early Universe (think first few seconds for starters) expanded faster than the speed of light. It gets really complicated but for arguments sake just put it in your mind the universe expanded faster than the speed of light.

 

Now once you have that knowledge, if the Universe expanded faster than the speed of light then light has some catching up to do. So... many scientist have studied that light catching up with (reaching) us and have presented us with the cosmic microwave background. Within that cosmic microwave background is "an extra glow" which is unexplained and one theory is that glow is evidence of a multi-verse meaning our universe is like a bubble or kernel of corn and there are many other universes similar to ours and some of the energy/light from one of those other universes "leaked" into our universe around the time of the big bang.

 

Put the bottle down. LOL

Even though I really struggle grasping this, I love reading about it.

 

Thanks for posting, Guru, I really enjoy your post and take on this type of thing. Keep them coming!

I had put this thread aside until I had time to read the article. So I clicked it just now and it's from USA Today and contains approximately zero useful information to what he's talking about.

 

"There's a glow."

 

Oh there's a glow is there? Well what do you think it means and what makes it different from the other cosmic microwave background radiation we've been looking at for the last 50 years?

 

Do we have any other links for this or did some dude at CalTech just manage to get hold of whatever joker is running the science desk at Gannett Papers these days?

 

... sorry. The quality of science reporting in major publications makes me mad. I'll look up something more detailed and post it.

Even though I really struggle grasping this, I love reading about it.

 

Thanks for posting, Guru, I really enjoy your post and take on this type of thing. Keep them coming!

 

I find the subject matter fascinating and probably watch/read something on it 2 or 3 times a week.

I find the subject matter fascinating and probably watch/read something on it 2 or 3 times a week.

 

 

As do I. I love pondering these things.

Is it possible for the the universe to expand faster than the speed of light? Or can anything go faster than the speed of light...in a vacuum.

Is it possible for the the universe to expand faster than the speed of light? Or can anything go faster than the speed of light...in a vacuum.

 

According to the theory of inflation yes it is possible.

 

Additionally, much of the Universe appears to be moving away from Earth faster than the speed of light. I believe this is a function of just how fast each galaxy in the Universe is moving and the distance between those galaxies given the unexplained nature of space itself expanding. More space, more total expansion, more appearance of greater speeds.

 

I know this is all real confusing and if you google it you are going to come up with ambiguous results but think about it this way, objects may not be able to physically move faster than the speed of light with known energy sources but the big bang may have caused the laws of physics to break down and empty space expands for some unknown reason. The net result appears to give us numbers/evidence of faster than speed of light travel for the early Universe (maybe for just a fraction of a second) and the appearance of objects moving faster than the speed of light in a vacuum because space itself expands.

 

All this is my super watered down best guess of a couple of complicated theories but in short the answer appears to be yes to both of your questions.

Definition of Cosmic Microwave Background

 

The matter left on the back of a microwave oven after overheating a cosmic brownie

 

I filibuster that commencement.

And if all this is true, I know damn well I'm in the wrong one!

 

You and me both. I am sure I somehow crossed over into the wrong one.

Is it possible for the the universe to expand faster than the speed of light? Or can anything go faster than the speed of light...in a vacuum.

 

Your question is a bit undefined, but yes and no according to my studies, but with a bit of categorization. Items within the universe (therefore bound by universal constraints) can travel no faster than the speed of light. The universe is not bound by this constraint thus can expand faster than the speed of light.

 

Simple illustration:

 

A person can run 20 mph. The person is in a plane travelling at 500 mph. The person runs from the back to the front. By definition, the person is still running only at 20 MPH. This may evoke however a yes/yes response if the speeds are added, but by definition this does not mean the person can run 520 mph.

Your question is a bit undefined, but yes and no according to my studies, but with a bit of categorization. Items within the universe (therefore bound by universal constraints) can travel no faster than the speed of light. The universe is not bound by this constraint thus can expand faster than the speed of light.

 

Simple illustration:

 

A person can run 20 mph. The person is in a plane travelling at 500 mph. The person runs from the back to the front. By definition, the person is still running only at 20 MPH. This may evoke however a yes/yes response if the speeds are added, but by definition this does not mean the person can run 520 mph.

Thanks, I should have went past Physics 101 in school or just have a better memory.

There was something on TV two nights ago and they were talking about how fast the universe expanded at the beginning. Unfortunately I was not paying attention. :/

Your question is a bit undefined, but yes and no according to my studies, but with a bit of categorization. Items within the universe (therefore bound by universal constraints) can travel no faster than the speed of light. The universe is not bound by this constraint thus can expand faster than the speed of light.

 

Simple illustration:

 

A person can run 20 mph. The person is in a plane travelling at 500 mph. The person runs from the back to the front. By definition, the person is still running only at 20 MPH. This may evoke however a yes/yes response if the speeds are added, but by definition this does not mean the person can run 520 mph.

 

I guess I cold go ask my father in-law all about it, after all he has a PHD. in Nuclear Physics from Ohio State.

 

Second thought, I would rather ask here....

I guess I cold go ask my father in-law all about it, after all he has a PHD. in Nuclear Physics from Ohio State.

 

Second thought, I would rather ask here....

 

Excellent application of the Theory of Relativity.:lol2:

There was something on TV two nights ago and they were talking about how fast the universe expanded at the beginning. Unfortunately I was not paying attention. :/

 

Really fast. As in much much faster than the speed of light.