I heard that galaxies are receding from each other because the ‘space between them is expanding’. Does this mean the ‘fabric’ of space can swell infinitely? How? Why?
Ta
In: Physics
Short answer is, we don’t know. We don’t even know what’s causing it.
The current theory is that small bits of space are simply randomly created. That space is empty, it’s nothing and doesn’t really mean anything.
It’s kinda like, if we’d change the definition of 1 cm or 1 in, increasing them by 25%, and all the rulers also stretch by 25% by themselves. 1 cm would still correspond to 1 cm on the ruler. (It’s just an analogy. Don’t hate…)
The thing is, over large distances the extra space somehow adds up to more than it would make sense this way. It’s like 1 cm measures 1 cm here but just 0.5 cm on the same ruler on the other side of the room.
Something weird is happening. Scientists call that weirdness dark eneegy. Whether it has any limit, we don’t know. It’s possible this process will stop, reaching its limit. Ot it will reverse like a rubber band and start shrinking again. Or maybe it will break reality apart like when the band breaks.
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