[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

"We still aren't certain that the universe collapses are we?"

Not certain, but things are looking bad for the Big Crunch. Our expansion rate appears (recent observations) too high,

I thought a couple of years ago scientists were puzzled by measurements that the expansion of the universe was speeding up, accelerating. This flew in the face of gravity which should decelerate the rate. I have not heard any contrary reports since. I'd settle for an answer on the driving force behind this acceleration as more useful than wondering if the universe is antropical.

[samtheman]

I thought a couple of years ago scientists were puzzled by measurements that the expansion of the universe was speeding up, accelerating.

That's the way I understand it. It turns out Einstein was right when he predicted a cosmological constant. Even though later he back-tracked and called it "my greatest mistake".

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Perhaps the instantaneous effect of gravity of an unseen part of the universe--so far away that its light, if any, has yet to reach us--is attracting/accelerating matter outward. Perhaps matter that reaches that edge is shunted by some torus loop back to the center to restart its journey out again. Any support for this?

It is emotionally more satisfying than a never ending journey thru the darkness of infinite space coupled with the extinction of consciousness and the heat death of the universe.