Scientists explainAccording to astronomers, the Universe can be represented in the form of three forms. Read more about them in the material.Discuss
As experts note, the general theory of relativity suggests that the Universe can take one of three forms. Among them are flat, closed (“closed”), open(“open”). These shapes can be compared to various objects: a sheet of paper, a saddle, and a sphere.
Several factors depend on the shape of the universe. For example, whether it will expand forever or eventually collapse, whether it will be generally finite or infinite. The shape itself can be determined by the overall density of the Universe and its expansion rate.
The most convenient method for determining the shape of the Universe is the analysis of the cosmic microwave background – temperature fluctuations of the relic afterglow of the Big Bang. That is, after this explosion, hot and cold spots of different sizes are formed in space.
Over the past few decades, scientists have been able to quite accurately measure the temperature fluctuations of the cosmic microwave background radiation. According to their results, the Universe is actually flat as it expands with no positive or negative curvature. True, it must be said that such a form of the Universe is not recognized by all experts. This is due to the fact that other measurements (for example, the amount of gravitational lensing, or how much the CMB is distorted by the gravity of matter in its path) suggest more about the closed form of the Universe.
Source: BBC Science Focus Magazine