On Sun, 12 May 2002, Al wrote:
> What is the universe expanding into? -- Al

Good question, but only an unsatisfying answer
exists.  The proper answer is that what is beyond
the universe is just not defined.

Also, strictly speaking, there is no "outside"
of the universe.  It is not really like a ball
getting bigger.  A ball has a distinct
edge.  The universe, as far as we know, does not.
The trick is this: if you keep
travling in a certain direction, you would
eventually  arrive back to your original starting point
(it would take infinitely long, though).

It is impossible to visualize this in three dimensions,
but imagine that the universe existed on a
piece of paper.  Then, fold that paper and staple
it to itself.  If you drew a line, it would
eventually connect to itself.

I know, it is not satisfying, but your question
is one of the most mysterious there is...


Regards,
Scott Funkhouser