The Universe is Finite The universe is commonly defined as the sum of all existences, including planets, stars, galaxies,

and all matter energy. The origin of the universe is most notably associated with the Big Bang Theory, which states that around 13.7 billion years ago, a singularity, with an extremely high density and temperature, rapidly expanded and formed the universe. Astronomers today have spent their lives attempting to solve the mysteries of the universe. However, one question remains disputed: is the universe infinite or finite? In terms of size, I believe that the universe is finite because it has a very large volume and may possess the concept of a sphere, in which reaching one end of the universe will result in appearing in the opposite end. In terms of age, I also think that the universe is finite because a recent discovery of the Higgs boson particle leads physicists to believe that the universe will cease to exist far in the future. It is impossible to determine exactly if the size of the universe is finite or infinite because mankind will never see the entire universe as a whole. Even as technology expands, the universe is expanding as well. Data gathered from experiments show that space is flat, but it is within experimental error and it is possible that space could possibly be curved but with such a small curvature that technology cannot detect it. If the latter is true, then it is possible that the universe has a finite volume which expands rapidly over time, while maintaining the concept of a sphere, in which reaching one end will result in appearing in the opposite end. Unlike the calculation of the universes size, researchers have been able to predict the age of the universe. As the universe is believed to have formed circa 13.7 billion years ago, researchers believe that the universe will cease to exist tens of billions of years from now. This will probably not concern us, as mankind would have probably perished when the Sun will burn out and engulf the earth in about 4.5 billion years. Scientists have been conducting a subatomic

calculation that could predict a catastrophic even in the future that will end the universe; however, they were missing a piece. The standard model, the most prominent theory describing the way cosmos work, was incomplete as the model was unable to fit in gravity. However, last year, the discovery of a Higgs-like particle filled in the missing piece of the subatomic calculation. Joseph Lykken states that the calculation tells you that tens of billions of years from now, a singularity of what you might think of as an alternative universe will appear somewhere and then it will expand out and destroy us, establishing the end of the universe. As you can see, it is impossible to determine whether the universe is finite or infinite, but it is reasonable to suggest that it is finite due to a possibility of the universe having a finite volume and rapidly expanding. On the other hand, scientists have managed to grab a foothold on the age of the universe. As scientists were able to predict a rough time on when the universe was formed, they also managed to predict the possibility of its end. The discovery of a Higgs-like particle in space completed a subatomic calculation that predicted the world in end in tens of billions of years from now. Such speculations of the universe can only spur the minds of scientists and influence them to continue delving into the mysteries of the universe.

Works Cited
- "CERN Accelerating Science." The Search for the Higgs Boson. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.

- "Is the Universe Finite or Infinite? An Interview with Joseph Silk / Space Science / Our Activities / ESA." European Space Agency. N.p., 2 May 2001. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. - Tickle, Glen. "Geekosystem." Geekosystem The End Is DelNighdel Billions of Years Away Higgs Discovery Might Suggest Universe Is Finite Comments. N.p., 20 Feb. 2013. Web. 16 Dec. 2013.