Current best theories say: The universe does not end. It is not surrounded by anything. Space continues for ever. Why do the current theories think that? Basically the "first light" of the Big Bang can still be seen (as the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation) and this light is very very even across the whole sky - this means that the universe seems pretty much the same in all directions and as far as we can tell so far, this goes on for ever. (e.g. if there were an "edge", you would expect things to look at least slightly different in the direction of the nearest edge compared to the other way) Second best theories? The universe could be finite and unbounded - stop the clock and keep travelling in a "straight line" and you would eventually end up where you started. (this theory is a very close second at present). More observations will help. It could be surrounded by more dimensions - this might explain, for instance, why gravity is so weak compared to other physical forces. Experiments planned at CERN may be able to find out.

Does The Universe End? The laws of physics state that an object in motion must stay in motion, unless affected by another force. Therefore, the universe would still be expanding, according to the big bang theory, as there is no force to stop it. The 'shape' produced by this big bang would be much like a sphere, since it started at one point, and everything has traveled at the same speed away from the beginning center point. But would this not mean the universe had form and shape? So logically it would 'end', except that it’s still expanding. But we know it has no limit around it, any 'blanket' or 'skin'. It does not physically exist, so cannot end. But even if there was an actually sphere with the limit around it, there must be something on the other side, which this ‘limit’ is separating the universe from? There has to be two things or spaces being divided. But because there is no 'edge' to the universe, and technically holds no form, it cannot have an ending point, as it is logically non-existent, even though what has a starting point must have an ending point. The only thing that could fit this mathematically or logically is a circle, but only one that was 2 dimensional, with the laws of a 2-D, existing as a 3-dimensional in a 3-D world, so does maybe the universe curve back in on itself in infinite directions and dimensions? If you stop time and travel in a straight line, will you end up right back where you started?

It starts at Trafalger Square and ends at Picadilly Circus and is surrounded by the M25.

I personally think there are Parallel Universes.

There are no observations to determine if it has an end, which does not mean to say there is any evidence for or against the statement that it has none. But there is one little observation that has popped up with the advent of quantum mechanics. It's the idea that something that cannot ever be observed does not exist. A resolution to the riddle of the tree falling in the forest. With no possible observation to distinguish whether the universe goes on forever beyond the static limit (the distance at which it is not possible to see beyond due to the acceleration of the expanding universe), it is a moot point. Spacetime itself cannot be difinitively claimed to exist outside of that, as no coordinates in spacetime that are consistent with our local coordinate system can describe them. Our nouns and adjectives aren't even satisfactory. To say something exists, we mean it exists NOW. and NOW means at the same time as here and now but not necessarily the same place. But simultanaeity is forbidden in special relativity and beyond the static limit, it's like trying to see outside a black hole. Not only is it not possible to say 2 events are simultaneous, but no one can find a timeline that even contains both events at all! Now, that said, that which is now (to use the bad adjective) outside the static limit is in a certain sense not outside the static limit because it is still observable, as it was before it passed the static limit. Theoretically, it should be visible in successively redshifted views, but in practice, it is obstructed by a blanket of microwave radiation that was emitted by matter moving so fast away from us that it was emitted only a few hundred thousand years after the big bang and we're only getting it now. There's stuff beyond that but it can't be discerned. One thing's for sure. When you look at the microwave background radiation, you are seeing farther out into space than you do by any other means. You're seeing the universe as it was before stars existed.

I think it never ends and that we are universes in larger universes in larger universes etc.

If u put the universe in a box then u start to make ur own god right, ur starting a time. But there is no time in the universe, the universe has no time this is really all man made. Come on now we dont even know were the center of the universe is how can we say were every thing started. But by creating ur own god then u make these walls around that most people dont even know they are there. So it's totaly not posible to even know if there is an edge to this most amazing place we are in right now. Peace be with all

The universe ends at the point in space it has yet to expand into. Making it surrounded by a void.

At the edge of the universe you see the parallel universe, which is exactly the same as ours except everyone is wearing a cowboy hat. ...and there is only one parallel universe, that one.

That is such a wonderful question and the answers great. I cannot answer but love questions such as these. They really make a person(s) think.

Ok if u can understand that there is no time then u can start to think about that the universe is just drifting into infinity. There never was a beginning to the Universe and there is no end. However the only laws that the universe is governed by is Cause and Effect. Still even every thing that has every been in this universe is controled by that. Now if u try to start talking about how every thing has a beginning but all i have to say is there a beginning to a sphere. No there never was and there never will be. The only thing that u can ask is, how created the Sphere or all the energy in the universe? Well really that is not for us to know or we would be able to go there on this question. P.S. Remember that this life is for us to partake in, and dont ever thank that there is nothing u cant do. Peace be with all.

nobody knows. and that I know as a fact. Please dont write back with some scientific anwser. There is not one, The End..

If we look at the quantaum mechanics theory,that in itself raises another question,Is God real or is it just a thought process by which we live inside the universe as whole,For if you should ask any christain the same question about god would you not get the same answer as the ones that are here on this page.I think so.

1) There are various definitions of the universe: - all that we could observe today: From the biggest objects to the smallest. The more distant they are, the oldest views of them we shall get. Remember it is, at least, a spacetime continuum. - all that we could explore in the future: Using present and future technologies, and maybe communication with extraterrestrial intelligence. More dimensions could also be possible. - the thinkable universe: Also the parts that we never will be able to explore, but which we could imagine. For instance because there existence is coherent with our universum theory. Actually, we can really be sure about the first one. So practically the universe ends where we stop to explore it - maybe because we can't, but possibly because we don't have enough resources. 2) Practically, the end of the subjective universe is reached at the moment of individual death. (Except, you are sure that you can explore the other side.) 3) Further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_the_universe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape_of_the_universe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse_%28science%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclic_model

our planet is an atom and we are atoms on an atom and our galaxy is a group of atoms in a group of more atomst,the univers, and we are atoms inside a superior being which is the universa and the universe is just another atom to another bigger space the universe doesnt end just because physics has no law to say the universe does not end it does not mean it doesnt the universe never ends so outside of our planet(atom) new laws of physics exist and things that physicaly cant take place in our life can take place out side of our galaxy(our group of atoms). my theory but the thing is we will never know and thats something we must deal with we live in a magnificent place in a freak accident but if there is billions of galaxys(groups of atoms) surely the chances of another freak accident occuring is possible . so there is a big chance of other life in our universe

there is an answer. but we dont know the answer because of our limited brains.

As far as we know, stellar objects increase their speed the farther away they get from us. At about 15 billion light years, their speed reaches that of light, which means that no information about them can return to us, which means that that is the edge of the universe as far as we are concerned. From their point of view, we are at the edge of the universe. But it is possible from their point of view that the edge of the universe goes another 15 billion years beyond the far side of them... but unless a warp drive is somehow invented, we'll never know. Incidentally, from our point of view, objects at the edge of the observable universe are paper-thin just before they attain light speed and disappear.

The universe just cant end like u coundnt be flying or whatever and crash into a wall but what would be on the other side of "the wall" and the unverse can be going on and on and on

Peanut butter

We (Hindus) believe there is no beginning or end for universe. As for me the entire Universe was created when I was born and it will end when I leave this life.

If dark energy is expanding space, then what is it expanding into, does space expand into a void, and if it is a void, then is that where the universe currently ends, i dont know the answer to this, this is only my simple question, thanks, dan.

If I told you that the very outer reaches of the Universe is completely surrounded by a brick wall which is :- 85 thousand, million, billion, trillion miles thick... Would you STILL want to know what was on the other side? If your answer to this question is "Yes"... then you are just one nosey dude!

This is my answer as it stands after little more than 5 minutes thought on the matter: I think we will always be bound on a path of thinking about such matters, by blinkers put around us from what we know, and what we have been told. Over human history people have come up with so many theories to explain certain goings on around us, an if these seem feasible, most of the time the rest of us will just nod our heads and accept it. For example... Earth was once thought of as being flat, and people were cool with that for a while until the next big thinker came along and proposed it was a marble. What I'm tying to say is, would we all get to the same conclusion if individually we could never die? Are theories like fashion that people roll with because they make sense at the time? I got a wee bit side-tracked, so sorry... but I think we simply havn't even grasped the way of thinking about this question yet to come up with an answer, the answer could be so far beyond our comprehension based on todays understanding of physics and what-not, that we are way off track. I think everyone should try to be the next person who comes up with the theory everyone ridicules, just like half of the big names in science in the past. We need to take off the blinkers and search for something else. Bottom line, I would love to be told the answer, but could I believe it? Should I believe it? Or is the next answer going to be as far off as sailing to the end of the Earth and falling off?

In my view universe has an end, more over there are many universe moving randomly as electrons across, in space.... even collision would happen between universe....

you guys rule...love with you!

I don´t understand how people can get on with their lives without ever having that question. Our lives should seem stupid and senseless without having that answer. I feel really ignorant looking up to the sky and not understanding anything. what do wars, or rock concerts could ever mean without ever solving that basic question. I think our world, our lives and our civilization are nothig else but the blink of a microbe. We will fade away without ever understanding anything.

I beleive that the universe lies within space. So I don't know where the universe ends but space itself surrounds it.

I think that the universe is composed of a never ending series of black holes, effectively there could possibly be no containment ie edges and walls, because black holes can go on forever. come through one and out another and effectively nothingness is contained by nothingness in a series of loops

I think the universe does not end i think if you traveled like 400 million times faster then the speed of light (which will never happen) and get to the universe's end you will end up were you started so my theory is that the universe repeatd itself but no one knows you can alll fancy with the big bang theory and all that and that the universe is getting bigger but if it is getting bigger and expanding then what is outside of were the universe hasnt expanded to already? and plus no matter what no one say the big bang and no one from earth at least has explored and seen the entire universe. hopefully they will make something that goes really fast i mean like faster then light to go see the whole intire universe or at least the milky galaxy and others

The universe never ends. It is infinite.

The Universe is not surrounded by anything that can be observed or measured because anything of the Universe will not be able to observe anything outside. Outside is God. God observes and creates everything 'inside' from his ultimate vantage point.

well the truth is that out universe is actually a planet in a much larger galaxy surrounded by other universes wich are also planets in a gaaxy wich is located in whats called a super universe

Maybe it's always been here in the moment

Probably 73 googolplex astronomical units away, surrounded by 1's and 0's.

universe endng could b a real beauty,next 2 universe u'l find god in front of u in never endng vaccum

it's anyone's guess.

+5 The universe ends outside the Milky way,then it becomes Mars bars

The universe is shaped exactly like the earth If you go strait long enuff you'll end up where you were

As per our (Hindu) belief "Creation and Destruction of the universe" is a continuous, cyclical process. It never had a beginning and never will have an end. Very difficult to understand indeed.

Everything has to start, and end somehow and somewhere... so the real question is where and when, and what was there before? Because for something to develop, it must develop "inside" something... but then again how did that "something" become? It seems to me like a never ending cycle of beginning and end... But it blags me because like I said, it must have started from something, nothingness is not possible... Or is it? I agree with the black hole scenario and that at the end of the universe you are also at the beginning, but I think the thought of a being (God) sitting outside it all is illogical, but not impossible lol. But saying thisi'm not a cosmologist, im a joiner...

There cannot be an end to universe as one can say,well what is beyond that end,it has to be either space or matter ,and if so what is beyond that.BIG BANG?possible,but before that bang what was there ?space or matter,or both?It seems likly that it had to be the beginnig to an end and the end to a beginnig.If there is an end,we as humans do not have the makeup to figure it out,and oh yes there is a God,but is there space or matter or both surrounding him?

i dont know...I think the universe has to stop somewere..i mean nothing is infint..nothing..wat bothers me is that we will probobally never know...

The universe as we know it will end. Everything will decay... suns to super novae to energy etc until all energy is disapated totally. The universe will become a very big , very lonely and very cold place. There is a theory that when the energy reaches an absolute zero point , some kind of vaccuum reaction will result in a new state being created ie a new universe ...maybe not the same as ours of course. Not exactly a testable theory of course unless you hang around for 10 to the power of 100 years