Universe Shaped Like A Soccer Ball?

Rabid Rob writes "According to a New Scientist article, and prompted by data from NASA's Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), it's suggested the universe could be shaped like a soccer ball - the 'cosmic microwave background' has fluctuations, and a possible conclusion is that 'our Universe seems like an endlessly repeating set of dodecahedrons.' Oh yeah, the universe is only 70 billion light years across, so better buy up the real estate now while it's still cheap!" The NYT has more information (free reg. req.) on this theory, which is quickly being refuted by Wernstrom-like rival researchers.

Comments

Bend it like Hawking

[Dancin_Santa]

It's all pretty irrelevant in the here and now.

Let's try to think about how we can help our fellow man by lending a hand.

It's wonderful to have the luxury to sit idly and contemplate the universe in all its glory. It's sublime to reach down into the gutters and pull those huddled, wretched masses yearning to breathe free into the full brotherhood of Man.

A great man once said, "Take care of yourself AND each other" No greater admonition exists.

Re:Starlight and time

[Tyreth]

You're posting about some theory that claims to be scientific, but at the same time you state you're not interested in dicussing its weaknesses.

I'm not unwilling to discuss apparent weaknesses - just not on slashdot. I have boundaries, and I don't have an infinite amount of time to waste.

Please also read this post I just made.

I fear I shouldn't have posted again - I can already hear the rumblings of a hundred emails in my inbox - the very reason that I despise discussing the details on slashdot. Every man has his limit. It's like a DoS in an argument, 5 people shouting at one person.

Re:Starlight and time

[Tyreth]

Are you referring to this current thread? I am talking about all the other times I've posted. Every time I talk about creationism, I invariably have to defend against 5 attacks or so. It's incredibly tiresome.

Just because this post I made all of 30 minutes ago hasn't yet reached Biblical proportions, doesn't mean what I said was invalid.

I'm very interested in email discussions - offers I've made previously in slashdot - but no-one was interested in it. I've only ever found two others willing to talk via email - one of them conceded he didn't know enough, the other the discussion just wore out. But no-one on slashdot has ever taken me up.
I considered that email debate offer a nice, legitimate way, of backing up my claim that I'm happy to discuss in a more organised way.

It is true no-one has shouted here, and I respect that ;) Shouting was more of an analogy of the nature of a 'discussion' that entails more noise than one can handle. It begins to sound like a shouting, or a din, in ones ears, than anything civil.