How Many Holes Does the Universe Have?

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the complex shape of the universe, which may be more intricate than previously assumed. It explores how cosmologists study the shape of the universe by examining traces of the oldest light in the cosmos.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The shape of the cosmos

1. What are the key points about the shape of the cosmos discussed in the article?

• Around 2,500 years ago, people recognized that the Earth is round, but the shape of the universe is not clear
• Previous studies suggested the cosmos has a fairly simple shape, like a spherical surface or a plane
• However, a new paper by the COMPACT collaboration found that the shape of the universe could be significantly more complex than previously assumed
• The article compares the Earth's apparent flatness to the potential complexity of the universe's shape

2. How do cosmologists study the shape of the universe?

• They could send a spaceship out to traverse the cosmos, but instead they examine traces of the oldest light that reaches us from the depths of the universe
• This radiation was created around 300,000 years after the Big Bang, when the universe became transparent and photons were able to spread freely through space

[02] Determining the shape of the universe

1. What clues do cosmologists use to determine the shape of the universe?

• They examine traces of the oldest light in the cosmos, which was created around 300,000 years after the Big Bang
• This light, known as the cosmic microwave background radiation, has been traveling freely through space since the universe became transparent

2. How is the process of determining the universe's shape similar to proving the Earth is round?

• Just as walking in a straight line on Earth would eventually lead you back to the starting point, proving the Earth is round, cosmologists could send a spaceship out to traverse the cosmos to determine its shape

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