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wildbrumby
October 9th 2003, 04:50 AM
What do you believe the overall geometry of the universe is? I've been reading The Whole Shebang by T. Ferris and am enjoying every minute of it. In the first chapters, Ferris points out the various values for omega (ie: 1, >1, <1). Ferris takes the view that the universe has an omega of 1 and so is caught inbetween expansion and contraction. Expansion of the universe seems to be predicted by Relativity, unless you invoke the Cosmological Constant (Einstein's Greatest Mistake). Humphreys argues for a bounded universe, and he may be right. I don't know. Evidence by the way of red shifts also seems to predict expansion.
Socratism
October 9th 2003, 10:19 AM
Today @ 04:50 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=238399#post238399)
wildbrumby:

What do you believe the overall geometry of the universe is? I've been reading The Whole Shebang by T. Ferris and am enjoying every minute of it. In the first chapters, Ferris points out the various values for omega (ie: 1, &gt;1, &lt;1). Ferris takes the view that the universe has an omega of 1 and so is caught inbetween expansion and contraction. Expansion of the universe seems to be predicted by Relativity, unless you invoke the Cosmological Constant (Einstein's Greatest Mistake). Humphreys argues for a bounded universe, and he may be right. I don't know. Evidence by the way of red shifts also seems to predict expansion.

I picked up a copy of that book at a library booksale. I enjoyed it.

Cosmology seems to be in a state of great flux and speculations abound.
Science Boy
December 4th 2003, 12:35 PM
You are pretty much right. The value of omega does seem to be very nearly 1.

However, you are missing a few very recent bits of information that may be of use to you.

Einstein may have been a prophet... his cosmological constant now seems to be CORRECT!

The universe is speeding up its expansion due to an unknown energy dubbed 'dark energy'. We have no idea what it is but the effect is real and observable. I was very skeptical for the first couple of years but recent observations by other groups confirms that the universe is expanding more rapidly now than it did in the past.

Tony the Science Boy

Hey Science Boy this section is for creationists only.