Is the Universe Truly Expanding? Examining the Paradox of Infinite Expansion

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The discussion centers on the paradox of an expanding universe in relation to its potential infinitude. Some participants argue that while the universe may be infinite, its expansion is not contradictory. The concept of infinity is explored to illustrate that an infinite set can still experience expansion. An analogy is provided comparing two infinite sets to clarify this point. The conversation ultimately emphasizes the complexity of understanding the universe's expansion in the context of infinity.
Ben.meyer
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I have been looking around people are talking about the universe expanding. By geometry we are able to figure out that the universe is infinite. The question is, if the universe is infinite than how can be expanding?
 
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Ben.meyer said:
I have been looking around people are talking about the universe expanding. By geometry we are able to figure out that the universe is infinite. The question is, if the universe is infinite than how can be expanding?

No, we are NOT able to calculate that the universe is infinite. It MIGHT be, or it might not be.

Regardless, if it IS infinite, then continued expansion is not a problem.

You should read up on the concept of infinity.
 
Imagine I have a set 1,2,3,4,5,6,...

Then some later time that set has now 2,4,6,8,10,12,...

Both sets are infinite, but in some sense that set has expanded.
 
Thanks, that definately gave me a better understanding.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recombination_(cosmology) Was a matter density right after the decoupling low enough to consider the vacuum as the actual vacuum, and not the medium through which the light propagates with the speed lower than ##({\epsilon_0\mu_0})^{-1/2}##? I'm asking this in context of the calculation of the observable universe radius, where the time integral of the inverse of the scale factor is multiplied by the constant speed of light ##c##.
The formal paper is here. The Rutgers University news has published a story about an image being closely examined at their New Brunswick campus. Here is an excerpt: Computer modeling of the gravitational lens by Keeton and Eid showed that the four visible foreground galaxies causing the gravitational bending couldn’t explain the details of the five-image pattern. Only with the addition of a large, invisible mass, in this case, a dark matter halo, could the model match the observations...
Hi, I’m pretty new to cosmology and I’m trying to get my head around the Big Bang and the potential infinite extent of the universe as a whole. There’s lots of misleading info out there but this forum and a few others have helped me and I just wanted to check I have the right idea. The Big Bang was the creation of space and time. At this instant t=0 space was infinite in size but the scale factor was zero. I’m picturing it (hopefully correctly) like an excel spreadsheet with infinite...
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