Could the Universe be a tiny part of something much bigger?

Question

Could the Universe be a tiny part of something much bigger?

Answer 1

The idea of infinite regression has been around for ages.  It usually independently resurfaces after some really good weed. There isn't much to support the idea, but I remember how amazing that idea sounded under the influence.  Groovy. Far out!!  DUDE!!

Answer 2

No.  The word "Universe" means everything that exists.  If there was anything bigger than the universe, then it would exist, and since it exists, it would be part of the universe.  If it is part of the universe, it can not be bigger than the universe.

Answer 3

OK i was thinking of this for few weeks now and i think we should open our minds up because at different times in human life we thought the earth ended in the oceans till we cross them and found the world was round another time we thought there were only 3 galaxies now we know there are billions of galaxies . we also say our galaxy is growing and is about 14 billion years old . so lets take a football field and drop a inch ball on it and begin blowing it up slowly whats to say there are not a few million other small balls out there all moving and growing just like our universe. remember just because technology doesn't allow us to see or witness this doesn't make it untrue. to really blow your mind lets say this is true whats stoping all that from being another small part of something else and that being another part of something bigger so on and so on maybe that's where the word infinity came from

Answer 4

There are many theories of multiple universes parallel to our own.  They idea being that each time a choice is made, instead of all possibilities vanishing, a new universe would be created where each different possibility did happen.  This would occur at the sub-atomic level.  So yes it could but for now this is all we know about.

Answer 5

Yes, anything is possible.

To the second answerer, yes the word "universe" means everything. From Old French univers, from Latin universa, from uni-, combining form of unus, one + versus, turned, perfect passive participle of vertere, turn.Literally "all turned into one".

But, that does not mean there cannot be something bigger and separate from the universe. After all, man is the one the named it the universe. And, man could be wrong about it being everything. How can we possibly know. Man thought the world was flat and the Earth was in the center of the universe for ages. So we can't go by a man assigned word and say there is nothing bigger than the universe, because that title may not be accurate. No one can say for sure that something bigger does or does not exist outside the universe. How can anyone make a concrete statement saying there isn't.

To the answerer below, we all could get into a game of semantics, but my point is there could be a dimension that transcends the familiar space-time, or the "known" universe. But, if you still want to call that part of the universe, fine. Though, I think another dimension would merit as being not part of our universe.

I might add, according to some theories the universe is finite and space wraps around itself near the outer ends of the expanding universe, so if that theory is correct, what's outside of space-time? Could something exist outside of our ever expanding universe? Just thoughts to ponder.

Answer 6

The answer is Yes, it could.  But we have no way of checking.

At least, not yet.

Many scientists are working on ideas, hypotheses and theories based on our universe being a part of something bigger (with more dimensions).  

The latest serious attemps (String theory) has as many as 11 dimensions, where the portion we see and live in, is only 3 dimensions out of the 11.  Although we can't see the others, they are necessary to explains some features of the universe... if it is made of strings (no, not small ropes, but a mathematical model explaining how loops of the other dimensions end up vibrating in different modes, like "strings" on a musical instrument).

I am more in the camp of those who think that the universe is infinite and flat (it goes on forever in all directions and is not wrapped around other dimensions).  There are no other dimensions and there is no outside, there are no edges and no ends.

Answer 7

then what would be the much bigger thing called?

universe of course! ;)