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Doughnut-Shaped Universe Back In the Race

Posted by kdawson on from the mmmmm-universe dept.

SpaceAdmiral writes "The once-popular idea that the universe could be small and finite is making a comeback. Many researchers thought that a 'wraparound' universe would mean that distant objects would be seen multiple times in the sky, but new research suggests that a '3-torus' (or 'doughnut universe'), as well as other shapes, could fit our actual observations, particularly the WMAP data."

10 of 124 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory Simpsons quote by CrazyJim1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Your theory of a donut-shaped universe is intriguing, Homer. I may have to steal it."

    --
    God spoke to me.
    1. Re:Obligatory Simpsons quote by pak9rabid · · Score: 3, Funny

      Hehe..another favorite Hawking quote (from Futurama):

      Nichelle Nichols: "It's about that rip in space-time that you saw!"
      Stephen Hawking: "I call it a Hawking Hole."
      Fry: "No fair! I saw it first!"
      Stephen Hawking: "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?"

  2. Re:That's silly. by Profane+MuthaFucka · · Score: 2, Funny

    And are soooo delicious.

    --
    Fascism trolls keeping me up every night. When I starts a preachin', he HITS ME WITH HIS REICH!
  3. Donut shaped? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I guess it depends on your perspective. It looks like a goatse universe to me!

  4. A pitiful route to extinction by hyades1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "...new research suggests that a '3-torus' (or 'doughnut universe'), as well as other shapes, could fit our actual observations..."

    Great...it all ends when we wind up being eaten by some fat-ass cop from the other side of a black hole.

    --
    I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
  5. Re:That's silly. by mOdQuArK! · · Score: 2, Funny

    The scary thing is, this has already happened a few times, with each new instantiation of the universe being more bizarre than the last. :-P

  6. your theory has a hole in it! by peter303 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Right in the very middle.

  7. Re:Scientists by grahamd0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Bagels aren't mathematically delicious enough to fit the equations.

  8. Re:That's silly. by rts008 · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, we will all (and our universe) cease to exist in this form when some trans-dimensional cop dunks our donut universe in his coffee and EATS US!!!

    --
    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  9. Re:That's silly. by SEWilco · · Score: 2, Funny

    you would have to travel the "length" of the universe twice to return to the other side of earth
    No, the flights only seem to take that long.