What Is The Universe?

What is the Universe?

The universe is the space filled with cosmic objects that we can see, which we trace back to the common source of the Big Bang — along a pathway that connects all matter in the universe.

The Universe is, in essence, all that we can see. We cannot see beyond, therefore we cannot say what is outside of the universe (even while theories abound). What we can say is that the Observable Universe is

Cosmic Objects In The Universe

The universe is made up of all the cosmic objects that we know of. Everything, all types of objects that we have identified:

• planets
• stars
• comets, meteors, and asteroids
• nebulae (space clouds, star forming region)
• planetary nebulae
• black holes
• galaxies
• clusters of galaxies

These are what make up our universe.

The universe is a diverse environment, that in its own way is a living system. (At least the argument can be made that it is a living environment of a sort.)

Black holes form at the centres of galaxies, which gather stars in its gravitational field creating an organized, dynamic, relatively contained environment. (Not unlike how our atmosphere contains the Earth and other planets, though at a greater scale.)

Within a galaxy is a relatively dense environment, where interactions and creation occurs through its dynamic cycles. Giant space clouds called nebulae form stars within their mass. These stars then create planetary systems around them, with a fairly high frequency it seems, which are themselves unique environments.

Who knows how many produce life.

Furthermore, stars produce heavy elements in their core, enriching the galaxy with heavy elements. When extremely massive stars finish their life cycle, and ultimately die, they do so in great Supernova Explosions that radiate their matter — including the heavier elements they created — almost seeding the local region, and the galaxy itself.

(This is where the elements on the Periodic Table come from.)

Stars In Empty Space

With all of these dynamic systems and objects in the Universe, the Universe is mostly made of empty space. Just like atoms on the macroscopic scale are mostly space, so too are solar systems, galaxies, and the universe itself.

Yet in every direction that we look, we see stars and galaxies in the universe. We can understand the Universe as a sphere that is expanding in every direction at the same time. For all we know, eternally.

Beyond the bounds of the Universe, beyond what we can see, we know not.