Does Space Require Radiation to Exist?

[beans]

Before I start, let me get something out of the way;
light=radiation=pure energy, where all of these terms are mutually exclusive, right?

So if its true to say that the universe is bathed in radiation due to the big bang and that the universe is expanding space wise, is it also true to say space can only exist while there is radiation running through it? or that the radiation at the edge of the universe creates space as it permeates away from the center of the universe?

At the risk of sounding too bizarre, I wonder if there's a correlation here to matter diffraction. If radiation isn't present, massive particles will superimpose all over the place.. so is light light is necessary for structure in this sense?

 

[Aaron Barnard]

No, radiation is not necessary for space to exist. Space is an abstract concept and does not require any type of energy or particles to exist. The presence of radiation, however, can affect the structure of the universe. For example, radiation from the Big Bang caused the universe to expand rapidly at its early stages, and it is believed that radiation was responsible for the formation of the first stars and galaxies. Radiation can also create and shape features in the universe on smaller scales, such as the formation of planets and moons. However, radiation is not required for the existence of space.