Name: What is the universe expanding into?
Uploaded: 2018-09-06T18:39:40Z
Duration: 5 min 29 s
Description: The universe began in a Big Bang nearly fourteen billion years ago, and has been expanding ever since. But how does the universe expand and what is it expanding into? Sajan Saini explains the existing theories around the Big Bang and what, if anything, lies beyond our universe. [TED-Ed Animation by Wooden Plane Productions]

Sajan Saini: What is the universe expanding into?

What is the universe expanding into?

The universe began in a Big Bang nearly fourteen billion years ago, and has been expanding ever since. But how does the universe expand and what is it expanding into? Sajan Saini explains the existing theories around the Big Bang and what, if anything, lies beyond our universe. [TED-Ed Animation by Wooden Plane Productions]

The universe has been expanding since the Big Bang nearly fourteen billion years ago, but it is not growing into pre-existing space. Instead, space and time are woven into the universe itself, so 'expansion' means that the fabric of space stretches everywhere at once. Theories like cosmic inflation and string theory suggest our universe could be one of many, each with its own laws and history, but no evidence yet confirms what might exist beyond our cosmic boundaries. Scientists continue to explore these bold ideas, searching for clues in the deepest reaches of physics and astronomy.