:: writes:
The latest news that I've heard on this front, however, is that the universe has now been considered finite and shaped like a soccer ball. This comes in accordance to observed density fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background which were inconsistent with an entirely flat spacetime, and the math makes the most sense if the universe is instead shaped like a dodecahedron. Here's an article about those observations:
Universe is Finite, "Soccer Ball"-Shaped, Study Hints.
Caution. A statement like
the universe has now been considered finite and shaped like a soccer ball might convey the idea that this is a new discovery accepted by a significant number of scientists.
This is one report, by one group, in an area that is wide open. Quoting your link:
quote:
Weeks cautions that his team's model of a finite, dodecahedral-shaped universe, while promising, is hardly a proven theory. "There's more work to be done, he said. "It could be affirmed, or it could be refuted."
Well, it did not take long for the refutation to arrive. Indeed, the refutation was arguably already in place just shortly before the 12-sided finite universe claim! For details, see this popular account:
Cosmic Soccer Ball? Theory Already Takes Sharp Kicks extracted from the New York Times. For a more technical press release, see
MSU physicist at center of debate over universe shape . For the gory details, see
Constraining the Topology of the Universe.
The two teams involved; Cornish et al for large and infinite, and Weeks at all for small with twelve-sided symmetry, are likely to work together to test this further. But I think the 12-sided model is very much a long shot by a small group which was interesting, but speculative and already pretty much dead.
Cheers -- Chris
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