Unraveling the Observable Universe: Why It’s Truly Observable

Have you ever wondered why we call our observable universe observable when the furthest regions seem to be moving away at a speed greater than the speed of light? This conundrum is fundamental to our understanding of the cosmos. In this detailed article, we will explore the origins of this confusion and the scientific explanations that clarify why the observable universe is indeed, observable.

Understanding Light-Travelling Limitations

Consider this: When you gaze at the Sun, you're seeing it as it was eight minutes ago. Light takes 8 minutes to travel from the Sun to our eyes. Therefore, if the universe were only a year old, the farthest we could observe would be from 1 light-year away. Time, in essence, creates a finite observational sphere around us. You're not just observing across distance; you're also looking back in time.

The Hypergeometrical Universe Theory (HU): A New Perspective

Building on these concepts, I propose the Hypergeometrical Universe Theory (HU). According to HU, the universe can be visualized as an expanding sphere. When we look into the sky, we are receiving light that was emitted when the universe was smaller, denser, and more homogeneous. This idea adds a new spatial dimension to space, transforming the surface of this sphere into a 3D hypersurface. So, our 3-dimensional universe is contained within this hypersurface.

The key to understanding this universe lies in adding a sphere (embedding sphere) into this hypersurface. The radius of the embedded sphere corresponds to the radius of the hypersphere. In the past, the observable universe sphere (our sphere of view) was smaller because time had passed since the universe's creation. Over time, both the embedded sphere and the hypersphere grew, but they scaled in unison, as if attached at their center.

The Initial Size of the Universe

Through rigorous calculations, I determined that the initial size of the universe was approximately 421 light-seconds. This figure represents the universe's radius when it first emitted light that could travel freely, setting the stage for what we now call the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).

Key Observations and the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)

The Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is a critical component of our current understanding of the observable universe. It is the thermal radiation left over from the early stages of the universe's history. CMB light is not emitted as a bright, visible light that we can directly see with the naked eye. Instead, it is a faint, nearly uniform glow that fills the universe. If you could observe it, you would see this glow filling the entire sky.

The CMB is a remnant of the hot plasma that existed in the universe's early stages, where light could not travel freely. By the time of recombination (when electrons and protons combined to form neutral hydrogen), the universe had cooled enough for this light to travel freely, creating the CMB we observe today. This light is a snapshot of the universe from around 380,000 years after the Big Bang.

Challenges in Observing the Farthest Regions

Why can't we observe the farthest regions of the universe? The key lies in the expansion of space. The universe is expanding at speeds exceeding the speed of light in regions that were beyond the initial light-travel distance. Despite this, the light from these regions is still reaching us due to the continuous expansion of space. However, the light from these regions has been redshifted to microwave frequencies, making it impossible for us to see them as distinct objects with the naked eye.

The redshift effect means that the light from these regions has stretched to longer wavelengths, beyond the visible spectrum. This is why the CMB appears as a microwaves glow rather than a visible light source. The redshifted light is detectable by specialized instruments, such as radio telescopes, which can pick up the faint signals.

Conclusion

The universe, as we understand it, is indeed observable because of the finite amount of time since the Big Bang. Our observable universe is a sphere of light emitted and received within a certain timeframe. The expansion of space and the redshift effect mean that while we cannot see every part of the universe, we can still observe the remnants of the universe's early epochs in the form of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB).

To summarize, the observable universe is observable due to the finite time since the Big Bang and the interaction of light with the expanding universe. The initial size of the universe was around 421 light-seconds, and the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is the key to understanding the universe's early conditions. By studying the CMB, we can piece together the puzzle of the universe's earliest stages.