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Scientists explore one of the biggest questions in the universe: does outer space have defined boundaries or does it extend infinitely? Here's what we know so far.
Outer space has always piqued human curiosity, with its seemingly endless expanses and unsolved mysteries. One of the most intriguing questions is whether it has an end or whether it continues indefinitely.
High above you is the sky, known to scientists as atmosphere. This covering of gases surrounds the Earth and extends for thousands of kilometers.
Most of the Earth's atmosphere is concentrated in the first 32 kilometers of altitude, comprising the layers of troposphere e stratosphere, where the air density is much higher.
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However, the atmosphere extends well beyond this, reaching the exosphere, the last layer, which can reach around 10.000 kilometers in altitude.
In this region, the particles are so dispersed that the transition to interplanetary space becomes almost imperceptible.
It is in the exosphere that the Earth's gravitational influence still maintains traces of particles, but their interaction is minimal, marking the threshold of deep space.
The great mystery begins exactly after this subtle boundary between atmosphere and space. What exists beyond what we know?
What would you find when traveling through space?
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to travel through outer space and beyond, what would be beyond? Scientists have some answers based on observations and studies, but the big question remains: Is space infinite or is there a limit to it?
Planets, Stars, and Galaxies: An Initial Tour
At the start of your journey, the landscapes will be familiar. Our planet is part of a system that orbits the Sun, a common star surrounded by planets, asteroids and comets. The Sun, because it is closer, appears larger and brighter than other stars.
To reach the closest star to the Sun, known as Next Centauri, it would be necessary to travel 4,24 light years, or approximately 40 trillion kilometers.
Even using the fastest probe ever created, such as the Parker Solar Probe, which reaches 700.000 km/h, it would take us more than 6.300 years to get there.
Expanding the view even further, stars can be compared to houses, while galaxies function as cities filled with stars.
In our galaxy, the Milky Way, there are an estimated 100 to 400 billion stars. Seen from afar, it would appear as a tangled mass of light, much like the lights of buildings seen from an airplane at night.
Recent discoveries have revolutionized our view of the cosmos. More than 5.000 exoplanets, or planets orbiting stars outside the Solar System, have now been confirmed.
Many of them are rocky, like Earth, and some are located in the “habitable zone,” where life as we know it could exist.
The vastness of galaxies and dark matter
Traveling to another galaxy would be even more impressive. The closest galaxy to the Milky Way, Andromeda, is 2,5 million light-years away. To get there, it would take millions of years, even with the most advanced technology.
Much of the universe we observe is composed of dark matter and dark energy, mysterious forces that together account for about 95% of the cosmos.
Dark matter does not emit light, but we know it is there because it gravitationally influences galaxies. Dark energy is responsible for accelerating the expansion of the universe.
The James Webb Space Telescope has been able to observe galaxies that formed shortly after the Big Bang, more than 13 billion years ago. Meanwhile, the recently launched Euclid telescope is mapping the distribution of dark matter, helping us better understand how the universe formed.
If we could observe for millions of years, we would realize that the universe is changing. expanding. This expansion is compared to a balloon being inflated: as it grows, the points on its surface move away from each other. In the case of the universe, it is the space between galaxies that increases.
Does the universe have an end?
Moving forward, the inevitable question arises: is the universe infinite? Or is there a point where it ends? Scientists still do not have a definitive answer.
One hypothesis suggests that the universe is infinite, continuing in all directions, with galaxies stretching out endlessly.
Another theory is that the universe is curved, like the surface of a globe. In this case, if you travel in a straight line for long enough, you would end up back where you started, without ever finding an “end.”
Data obtained through the cosmic microwave background, the “echo” of the Big Bang, indicate that the universe is flat on a large scale. However, there is still room for the idea of a curved universe or even multiple universes coexisting.
In both cases, it is unlikely that there is a “barrier” or a point where space simply stops. The universe may be finite, but it is so vast that its extent surpasses any attempt at human comprehension.
Exploring the limits of knowledge
Increasingly advanced technologies, such as space telescopes and interplanetary missions, are helping scientists unravel these mysteries.
Recent observations point to new questions, such as the composition of dark matter and the possibility that the laws of physics are different elsewhere in the cosmos.
Regardless of the answers, the universe continues to inspire us. Knowing whether it ends or continues forever will be one of the greatest scientific challenges for generations to come. Until then, it remains a reminder of how small we are in the face of something so vast and mysterious.
Consider:
Theoretically, the universe began approximately 15 billion years ago. Therefore, if it began at a certain 'moment' and has been in constant evolution ever since, then logically it has a limit, even if this limit is unknown.
Thus, it is reasonable to imagine that, as time and space exist within the universe, their expansion happens in eternity itself.
This understanding will force us to go beyond the material, beyond what is seen; it will force us to see a purpose in everything that exists.