B What is the most common/likely process of the Universe?

[Tap Banister]

Sorry if this question is kind of vague or even too vague, but what is the universe's main descriptive action and what is the most common occurrence due to this action? Can we just say the universe's "main thing" is expansion and the main side effect of this process is...?

-Side Question-
Does being capable of seeing even greater scales and normalizing these scales alter what we already know about the universe? If we find out the observable universe is just part of an even larger cosmic object and the scale of a super cluster becomes normalized like galaxies are today, could that fundamentally change current nigh-certainties? I guess I'm asking, how much of what we know is based on how much or how well we can see?

 

[kimbyd]

Sadly, I don't think this question is well-formed enough for any kind of answer.

 

[mathman]

I'm guessing what you are looking for. Possibly proton-proton fusion?

 

[Tap Banister]

I'm guessing what you are looking for. Possibly proton-proton fusion?

If you don't mind me asking, what brings you to this thought?

 

[anorlunda]

If we find out the observable universe is just part of an even larger cosmic object

I don't understand what your question means.

But consider the meaning of the word observable. What we can say backed up by observations, is by-definition confined to the observable universe. We can speculate what is outside of that region, but we can't have evidence to confirm or refute the speculation.

 

[Klystron]

Sorry if this question is kind of vague or even too vague, but what is the universe's main descriptive action and what is the most common occurrence due to this action? Can we just say the universe's "main thing" is expansion and the main side effect of this process is...?

My first idea is that the "universe's main thing" is existence.

 

[jedishrfu]

Since we’ve exhausted the vagueness of the question, I think it’s appropriate that we close this thread now and thank everyone who commented here.

 

[fresh_42]

Sorry if this question is kind of vague or even too vague...

Indeed, it is. Maybe you will start a new thread with a more specific question.

... but what is the universe's main descriptive action and what is the most common occurrence due to this action?

Gravity.

Can we just say the universe's "main thing" is expansion and the main side effect of this process is...?

I don't think so. You can't actually see expansion, and what should severe consequences be? Locally there is nothing which expands.

-Side Question-
Does being capable of seeing even greater scales and normalizing these scales alter what we already know about the universe?

Hopefully every observation alters what we know, and be it a higher confidence in what we already knew. This question doesn't make sense.

If we find out the observable universe is just part of an even larger cosmic object and the scale of a super cluster becomes normalized like galaxies are today, could that fundamentally change current nigh-certainties? I guess I'm asking, how much of what we know is based on how much or how well we can see?

These questions cannot be answered. The first is pure speculation, which means any answer is allowed, and the second asks for a quantification which cannot be given: how much? 100%, because someone has to "see" what the instruments measure.