• Question: How is the universe expanding, and what is it expanding into?

    Asked by coca cola :-) to Angela, Robert, Sarah on 21 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Robert Bowles

      Robert Bowles answered on 21 Nov 2014:


      As far as we know the universe is expanding because of the explosion at the Big Bang which causes everything to expand out from that first explosion. What is it expanding into? The space outside the universe, although no-one really has a clue what that might be. The best idea is just nothing, there’s just nothing there but who knows?

    • Photo: Angela Stokes

      Angela Stokes answered on 21 Nov 2014:


      Hi coca-cola
      Got to agree with Robert regarding what we already know, but I have always wondered if it is expanding and continues to do so, would it be possible for two solar systems to come together and for planets to change orbits……obviously not anytime soon, but sometime? Just a thought!

    • Photo: Sarah Harris

      Sarah Harris answered on 21 Nov 2014:


      The universe is expanding because of the big bang – if you think of explosions you get a growing area of exploded stuff – and the universe is doing that in super slow motion. As to what it’s expanding in to – our best guess is nothing! It’s just expanding. But who knows, there’s still so much we don’t understand we might discover something outside of the universe

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