The three-dimensional universe is made of material, so is it bound by a shape, or is it infinite? One scientific website, Space.com considers the possibility that, “the universe is closed and finite, though it has no end, and has a spherical shape.” But, like most scientific thinkers today, they still believe in the “big bang” theory.

There is an excellent article in the current issue of Nexus Magazine (Vol.25 No.6) by David Rowland titled “A big bang never happened.” I agree with him when he says, “This is mythology, not science.” Scientists who endorse the “big bang” theory state that the universe is finite, yet always expanding. Mr Rowland asserts that it is not expanding, but it is infinite.

So here we have several possibilities, all apparent paradoxes. Space.com says it is finite but has no end; most scientists think it is finite but expanding; Mr Rowland thinks it is infinite, but static. So, I will throw in another paradox into the mix: Whether it is expanding or static, finite or infinite, I think it has a shape, because it is clearly physical/material. And I think that shape is spherical.

Hindu texts describe the universe as a cosmic egg, while Aristotle believed it was made up of a series of concentric spheres. Here are two quotes from Universetoday.com: “A positively-curved Universe would look somewhat like a four-dimensional sphere. This type of Universe would be finite in space, but with no discernible edge.” And, if it was shaped like “A soccer ball (it) would look much like a spherical Universe, but one with a very particular signature – a sort of hall of mirrors imprinted on the cosmic microwave background.”

If it is indeed spherical, consider whether it may have a centre – in particular, a gigantic Central Sun, like the ones at the centres of galaxies – see the above for an infrared image of our neighbouring Andromeda Galaxy, Credited to NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Ariz (Courtesy of http://www.astronet.ru/db/msg/1208803)