Skip to main content

What is the universe expanding into? - Sajan Saini

1,791,946 Views

4,659 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

The universe began in a Big Bang nearly fourteen billion years ago, and has been expanding ever since. But how does the universe expand and what is it expanding into? Sajan Saini explains the existing theories around the Big Bang and what, if anything, lies beyond our universe.

Eternal inflation suggests a multiverse wherein our particular universe is subject to the anthropic principle: the fundamental physical constants of our universe necessarily attained values that inevitably led to the formation galaxies, stars and planets, and life. Critics of eternal inflation argue the principle represents a non-scientific truism for a fine-tuned universe, tantamount to intelligent design; supporters argue we can still ascertain something about an ensemble of potential universes beyond our own. What do you think? Might the anthropic principle ultimately limit our ability to model the birth of our universe?

Sign in to answer question

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Sajan Saini
  • Director Will Mackenzie, Kat Gusarova
  • Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Music Patrick Smith
  • Producer Agota Vegso
  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott, Elizabeth Cox
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

More from Out Of This World