Hmmmm....

[Wahwax]

If the universe is everything, and scientists say that the universe is expanding, what is it expanding into?

 

[artybloke]

Which particular scientist said the universe is everything? It might well be - according to M-theory - a collision between two branes.

But as science can't penetrate beyond the observable universe, the scientific answer would be shrug one's shoulders and say, "dunno."

'Course those of us with a religious faith might want to put up our hands and say, "I know, I know..."

...but that would be theology not science, and if I was a scientist, I'd still say, "dunno."

 

[lucaspa]

If the universe is everything, and scientists say that the universe is expanding, what is it expanding into?

Nothing.

Remember, the universe is not only matter and energy, but space and time. So, the space of the universe is expanding. "Outside" the universe there is no space, so the universe isn't exanding into anything.

Tough concept to grasp, isn't it?

 

[artybloke]

That's the problem with science, it don't come in soundbites. It too difficult for a dull brian like mine so it can't be true....

 

[Bushido216]

Nothing.

Remember, the universe is not only matter and energy, but space and time. So, the space of the universe is expanding. "Outside" the universe there is no space, so the universe isn't exanding into anything.

Tough concept to grasp, isn't it?

So, let me get this straight.

The universe is not expanding like gas would in a room.

The universe is expanding like the room is getting bigger.

Correct?

I presume that the aforementioned gas would become more and more spread out as it seeks to expand? Does the matter in the universe act like that or do we end up with expanses of space with nothing in it?

And what is at the end of the universe? And I don't want to hear "uhh... a restaurant..."

 

[Aeschylus]

If the universe is everything, and scientists say that the universe is expanding, what is it expanding into?

It isn't expanding into anything, it's just expanding, unfortunatel it's a pretty hard to understand why that should be so, without a reasoanble, not necessarily technical grasp of the physics and maths involved. We say it's 'expanding' but we do not mean in the usual sense, all we mean is that the distance between objects on a co-moving sphere is getting larger with time.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

If the universe is everything, and scientists say that the universe is expanding, what is it expanding into?

Oh dear. I've had this conversation before.

It isn't expanding into anything.

 

[fragmentsofdreams]

So, let me get this straight.

The universe is not expanding like gas would in a room.

The universe is expanding like the room is getting bigger.

Correct?

I presume that the aforementioned gas would become more and more spread out as it seeks to expand? Does the matter in the universe act like that or do we end up with expanses of space with nothing in it?

And what is at the end of the universe? And I don't want to hear "uhh... a restaurant..."

Things are getting farther appart. Other than a few nearby, all galaxies are getting farther away from us because the space between us is expanding (Andromeda is on a collision course for us, which won't be fun, but I'll let God worry about that one).

The end of the universe is going to be cold and boring. The universe will expand, which reduces the average energy per volume, which means temperature will go down. Also, all usable energy will be gone, so it will get really boring. (This is also a problem I'm leaving to God. This account also doesn't account for any second comings).

 

[lucaspa]

So, let me get this straight.

The universe is not expanding like gas would in a room.

The universe is expanding like the room is getting bigger.

Correct?

Yep

I presume that the aforementioned gas would become more and more spread out as it seeks to expand? Does the matter in the universe act like that or do we end up with expanses of space with nothing in it?

Remember gravity. The gas in the room is evenly distributed. Matter comes in clumps -- galaxies. On the very large scale, the galaxies are like atoms of gas in a room, and they are spreading out. Eventually, the expansion will be such that even galaxies will break apart and you end up with isolated solar systems.

And what is at the end of the universe?

There is no 'end of the universe' The universe is the 4th dimensional equivalent of a sphere.

Oh, you meant in time? The end in time? See Fragments' post.