![]() ![]() The universe’s density refers to how much of this matter is packed into a given volume of space. The remainder is normal matter, which accounts for planets, stars and other bodies. Roughly 68 percent of the universe is dark energy and 27 percent is dark matter. The ultimate structure of the universe depends on just two factors: its density and its rate of expansion. This astronomical geometry is no trivial matter - the fate of the cosmos depends on it.Īs Princeton University cosmologist David Spergel puts it, “The shape of the universe tells us about its past and its future.” Whether the universe will expand forever or eventually collapse, and whether it’s finite or infinite - all are questions that tie back to its shape.įor a matter that bears on such grand questions, its components are remarkably simple. ![]() ![]() The theory of general relativity, under which space itself can curve, allows for the universe to take one of three forms: flat like a sheet of paper, closed like a sphere, or open like a saddle. ![]()
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