Can advanced civilizations alter the universe's geometry?

[James William Hall]

Are we sure that in the next billion years we (whatever “we” are then) won’t change the dreary future of the universe to make it closed because we then, as now, will find it more beautiful? I ask because Frank Tipler’s, The Physics of Immortality, is premised on a closed universe. It would be a shame to waste all that physics and my struggles to understand it.

 

[phinds]

Are we sure that in the next billion years we (whatever “we” are then) won’t change the dreary future of the universe to make it closed

Yes. We have no ability to affect anything outside of our observable universe and the universe is either infinite or staggeringly large. If it's infinite then the amount we can affect is essentially zero and if it's just staggeringly large then the amount we can affect is still essentially zero.

 

[Hornbein]

Yes. We have no ability to affect anything outside of our observable universe and the universe is either infinite or staggeringly large. If it's infinite then the amount we can affect is essentially zero and if it's just staggeringly large then the amount we can affect is still essentially zero.

Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

 

[James William Hall]

Aside from that Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?

Well, we never saw how it all ended because of an unexpected event.