Mathematics desk
< March 18	<< Feb \| March \| Apr >>	March 20 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Mathematics Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

March 19

Infinity and the universe

Here's a concept I'm struggling to understand and need digesting. Infinity, take for example the universe. Obviously our knowledge is limited on this subject, but there's a distinct possibility that prior to the university, something existed. When did this exist, and for how long. The more I think about this, the more I am troubled and vexed. What if the big bangs and successive universes have always happened. Forever and had no beginning. I mean, how far can you go back. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.32.51.253 (talk) 19:18, 19 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Note: for anyone who reads this section, please include as part of your response "Is this section more appropriate for Wikipedia:Reference desk/Science??" Georgia guy (talk) 19:23, 19 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]

The question is a fundamental one about the Physical cosmology of the Universe concerning its origin, evolution and ultimate fate. Several cyclic models have been proposed in which the Universe pursues a series of oscillations, each beginning with a big bang and ending with a big crunch. Redirecting this question to WP:RD/S could elicit more answers about cosmological models but addressing it to WP:RD/H could elicit reponses about the implications within various belief systems of such a model, such as whether in an omnipresent deity-acknowledging religion the deity's own existence is cyclic or eternal. AllBestFaith (talk) 13:16, 20 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]

You might be interested in our Ekpyrotic universe article. StuRat (talk) 19:35, 20 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]