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The Universe May Be Shaped Like a Doughnut

Posted by michael on from the krispy-kreme dept.

NewbieV writes "The NY Times (reg., etc.) is reporting that data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe may suggest that the universe might be shaped like a doughnut or a cylinder: it might be possible, like in the old video game Spacewar, to drift off one 'side' of the Universe and reappear on the other."

12 of 495 comments (clear)

  1. So I guess that makes God.. by flinxmeister · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...the Cop of the Universe?

    1. Re:So I guess that makes God.. by Spunk · · Score: 4, Funny

      *sirens*

      Licence and registration please.

      Now just how fast do you think you were going there?

      Look, sir, the law says you just can't go faster than c. I'll let you off with a warning this time, but don't let it happen again.

  2. Coming up... by Lemmy+Caution · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Krispy Kreme Endowment for Excellence in Cosmology.

    1. Re:Coming up... by davidstrauss · · Score: 4, Funny
      The Krispy Kreme Endowment for Excellence in Cosmology.

      I think you mean: "The Krispy Kreme Endowment for Excellence in Kosmology."

  3. Silly students by ObviousGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    2 dimensional universes are shaped like donuts. 3 dimensional ones like ours are shaped like hyperspheres.

    I guess they forgot to carry the 1.

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  4. Old hat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Those of us who have played games like Space Wars, Asteroids and Star Castle were already well aware of the toroidal truth.

  5. So does this mean.... by kaoshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Voyager could also become the first device of our civilization to sail around the entire universe?

  6. Somewhere in the code running the universe... by product+byproduct · · Score: 5, Funny

    /* comment this out to get an infinite universe */
    if (particle->position.x < LEFT_LIMIT)
    particle->position.x += RIGHT_LIMIT - LEFT_LIMIT;
    else if (particle->position.x >= RIGHT_LIMIT)
    particle->position.x -= RIGHT_LIMIT - LEFT_LIMIT;

    1. Re:Somewhere in the code running the universe... by pnatural · · Score: 4, Funny

      God called. You're in violation of the NDA. He'd sue, but He doesn't have any lawyers.

  7. How about the Star Trek: TNG references? by PseudoThink · · Score: 5, Funny

    Space is a toroid with finite size? Augh, I must be trapped in a static warp bubble! CleverNickName, this is all your fault!

  8. In related news... by BlackjackGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    It was discovered that the internet is shaped like a pringle.

  9. Re:Observations by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Then in theory, we'd be able to see the same part of space from two vantage points

    SETI: "We found a signal! Yipeee! Wait, Is that a Toyota commercial? Damn! It is just us."

    --
    Table-ized A.I.