New findings reveal that the shape of the Universe is a Dodecahedron based on Phi

Weird News ^ | 9/08

[LibWhacker]

The standard model of cosmology predicts that the universe is infinite and flat. However, cosmologists in France and the US are now suggesting that space could be finite and shaped like a dodecahedron instead. They claim that a universe with the same shape as the twelve-sided polygon can explain measurements of the cosmic microwave background – the radiation left over from the big bang – that spaces with more mundane shapes cannot.

Power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation. Data from WMAP have extended the accuracy of the spectrum far beyond what was known from earlier measurements. This plot reflects the small differences in the temperature of the CMB across the sky. There are a series of peaks in the spectrum at small angular separations, but at large scales that structure disappears. Standard cosmological models cannot explain this, but Luminet and colleagues’ topological model for a finite universe can (image and text credit: Nature 425 566).

The cosmic microwave background provides a picture of the universe as it was some 400 000 years after the big bang. By this time the universe had cooled down enough for atoms to form, which meant that there were no longer any free electrons to scatter the photons produced in the early universe. Any variations or anisotropy in the temperature of the background radiation therefore reflect variations in the density of the universe at this time.

These temperature fluctuations can be expressed as a sum of spherical harmonics, and astrophysicists plot the relative strength of these harmonics as a function of angle. The height and positions of the peaks in this so-called ‘power spectrum’ are related to basic astrophysical properties of the universe.
An image showing the view in a dodecahedral space universe

Data from the first year of the WMAP satellite – unveiled in February - agreed with the predictions of the standard big bang plus inflation model of cosmology for regions of space separated by small angles. However, on larger angular scales – greater than 60° - the WMAP observations were significantly lower than this model predicted.
Jean-Pierre Luminet of the Observatoire de Paris and colleagues believe that the finite size of the universe itself is responsible for this behaviour. Moreover, they show that the predictions of a model in which space consists of 12 curved pentagons joined together in a sphere agrees with the WMAP observations. Their ‘small’, closed universe should be about 30 billion light years across.

“Our work really addresses this ancient question of whether the universe is finite or infinite,” team member Jeff Weeks, a freelance mathematician based in New York, told PhysicsWeb. “The exciting point is that this is no longer pure speculation - we now have real data.”

The team says that its result, if confirmed, will have implications for theories and models of quantum gravity, inflation and the big bang itself. However, the model needs to be tested further by studying the microwave background at larger angles using more data from WMAP and the Planck Surveyor, which is due to be launched later this decade.

[Salamander]

Vindication *ping*

[LibWhacker]

Just now saw your comment. Somehow missed it earlier. Thanks for the additional information and link!

[Beowulf9]

So, does this dodecahedral shape repeat itself on infinitum?

[dangerdoc]

When you travel to the end of the Universe, can you ride again if nobody is waiting in line?

[LibWhacker]

In the multiverse? Possibly. At least in this article they don’t appear to address questions having to do with the multiverse.

[TASMANIANRED]

Very cool.

[shibumi]

Gee ..... who knew?

[shibumi]

Did someone say “Platonic Solids?

[PureSolace]

d12s baby!

[r9etb]

For those wondering, the "phi" in the headline and not mentioned in the body of the post is the golden ratio:

[JoeFromSidney]

The standard model of cosmology predicts that the universe is infinite and flat.

I don't think this is correct. Ever since Einstein, the universe has been thought to be curved, finite, but unbounded.

It has long been known that the universe was not infinite. See the Wikipedia entry on "Olbers Paradox."

I think this error is due to the writer of this article, not to the scientists being reported on.

[Museum Twenty]

MEGO Bump — Whom among us does not enjoy the dodecahedron?

[yorkie]

http://isg.cs.tcd.ie/eg2005/animPics/A5.jpg

(Too large to post)

[DouglasKC]

It's interesting that 12 has some interesting usages in the bible.

Rev 21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:

Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

Twelve tribes, twelve apostles.

[mjp]

The dodecahedron is a symbol of manifested Nature, or Prakriti. This is because in its relationships to the other regular polyhedra, it demonstrates the most concise manner in which the truths about the manifested universe can be presented. If we press the question: why is this so? We can only say “It is the nature of things.” There is no other reply.

The Mathematics of the Cosmic Mind,

By L. Gordon Plummer, 1970

[Salamander]

It’s like...totally...totally fractal, maaaaaaaan.

/Dennis Hopper

[Salamander]

Hail Eris.

[all hail Discordia]

[ViLaLuz]

Any photos of your house? Sounds cool.

[oiler]

I will have no opinion about this until I hear from Matt Damon.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Kevmo. :')