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Life in the Universe (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by UtopicVision

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[–]educatingeric 53 points54 points ago

I've always wondered about this picture; how the heck did we get a picture of "the universe"? or is it just what scientists THINK the universe would look like on a grand scale? I'm not doubting it's validity or authenticity I'm just confused as to how that picture came to be.

[–]sirrobotjesus 31 points32 points ago

It's based on the microwave background, which provides the initial conditions of nonuniform density caused by quantum fluctuations during inflation. Those initial conditions were run forward in time 13.7 billion years based on our current understanding of cosmology. The model aligns very well with the observations that we can make from earth.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]sirrobotjesus 5 points6 points ago

Precisely.

[–]enhancin 20 points21 points ago

It's not a picture, it's a rendering of what we imagine the universe would look like if it followed the laws of the universe as we understand it now. I imagine they could have used non-visible light and just had a computer analyze age of pictures in every direction and then calculate what it may look like. I'm sure it looks a bit different but not too much if physics works the same everywhere.

[–]MakesDickishComments 6 points7 points ago

Actually, I'm pretty sure that's a simulation of what we believe the dark matter distribution of the universe to be.

[–]enhancin 0 points1 point ago

It may be. I'm no astrophysicist, I just find it interesting.

[–]MakesDickishComments 1 point2 points ago

It is, I just googled "dark matter distribution" and it's one of the first things that popped up.

[–]cefriano 9 points10 points ago

I saw an episode of Through The Wormhole where they said that the universe might look like a donut...

[–]Siouxsie2011 33 points34 points ago

The Simpsons predicted this.

Edit: I looked it up and maybe they didn't predict it. Using Cracked for my science news is maybe not the best idea?

[–]alwaysf0rgetpassw0rd 1 point2 points ago

Ahh, good ol' Cracked. I haven't been there since I discovered Reddit.

[–]Duke_of_New_York 10 points11 points ago

"-and it would be, uh... you wouldn't want to put it into a tube."

[–]volcanicrock 1 point2 points ago

I do this every night with your son.

[–]El_Cantante 2 points3 points ago

What?

[–]volcanicrock 1 point2 points ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5felAN1O1s&feature=fvwrel

[–]Jinqs 1 point2 points ago

Thats how the universe might be shaped... How it might look to someone standing outside the universe. Don't think about that for too long...

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]Fungi4Life 0 points1 point ago

Great question.

[–]bluecoatkarma 0 points1 point ago

Somehow I saw "donut" as "snout" just before I clicked away from this page and I came back because that seemed pretty awesome. Honestly, I'm kinda disappointed to see it just says "donut," since that seems like a perfectly normal shape for a universe. But a universe shaped like a snout!? Now that would be something.

EDIT: "snout." ha.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

A hyper-donut or a three-tours meaning that if you traveled in one direction for a while you would end up back where you started. If you have ever played portal you can imagine it as the inside of a box where the left side has a portal that links to the right side and the top has a portal that links to the bottom and the front has a portal that links to the back.

[–]hopeisnotamethod 0 points1 point ago

I can't read the word 'wormhole' without thinking of Natalie Portman. Thank you, South Park.

[–]harmonicoasis 0 points1 point ago

"If the laws of physics no longer apply in the future, God help you."

[–]rifts 4 points5 points ago

I believe that it's a hybrid of "local" observations and a computer program which takes the properties of the known universe in order to predict the nature of the big picture at large.

[–]sphyden 3 points4 points ago

I'm pretty sure that it's a computer generated image of dark matter, or dark matter distribution. There's an article somewhere.

Edit: found the link

[–]CODDE117 1 point2 points ago

They had a very good camera. Probably a picture in some form of radiation.

[–]TheDentite 11 points12 points ago

You want to stand a good 10-12 ft back from the universe when you take the pic.

[–]CODDE117 1 point2 points ago

That usually does the trick. Zoom out too.

[–]Lord-Longbottom 0 points1 point ago

(For us English aristocrats, I leave you this 12 ft -> 0.0 Furlongs) - Pip pip cheerio chaps!

[–]From_the_year_2212 1 point2 points ago

It's the golden ratio at work. The golden ratio is the source code of your universe. It dictates how objects form in the universe. They move in a certain pattern through out the cosmos on both small and large scales. Think of the universe as a fractal.

[–]Benutzername 0 points1 point ago

It's a computer generated picture from the Millennium Simulation. The colours indicate the density of dark matter. The simulations contain no visible matter at all. Thus, the pictures don't show how the Universe looks, quite the opposite.

[–]munchmills 0 points1 point ago

If you really want to know how the universe looks like. I strongly recommend you this book.

Stalking the Wild Pendulum by Itzhak Bentov

The best book I've read in my whole life so far.

I can't even imagine how brilliant Bentov was, because he explains the Nature of Things so clearly, intuitively and humorously for the physics- and math-impaired that it boggles my mind. And he also very gently and humorously explains those mystical connections, synchronicities and the quirky nature of time. It's the kind of abstract but accessible knowledge that opens spiritual doors. And even though theoretical physics has advanced significantly since Bentov died, his thinking still holds up quite nicely. What a tour de force. My copy is dog-eared from all the times I've visited and revisited this book, and I'm happy to have this forum to express my admiration.

[–]MarxistRepublican 0 points1 point ago

Well it's not a bowl.

[–]KillTheRadio 34 points35 points ago

Beautiful pictures! But unfortunately a lot of the similarities you see are false colours, simulations and other things.

(The Universe) - This picture is actually from a simulation done on a computer, showing how they think the dark matter might be distributed. You point a telescope at a super cluster and you get something like this

(Death of a Star) This is just one nova, their are plenty of others that don't look like eyes, this looks like a bicycle, this looks like a pig from angry birds.

I don't think angry birds has that much cosmological influence, but I could be wrong :)

The point is, things look like other things, especially things we see every day. Also a lot of space photos are falsely coloured or in this case some are just computer simulations.

And even though the universe doesn't actually look like a brain cell, I don't think that takes away from how beautiful both things are.

If you want something elegant, think about this: The universe might have a total energy of zero now that is elegant!

[–]tomkaa 2 points3 points ago

The universe might have a total energy of zero

Hot damn it feels good to be made of positive energy. Beats nothingness any day.

[–]MrMadcap 0 points1 point ago

Exactly.

Neurons are shaped as such to maintain interconnectivity. The Universe, because it's being ripped apart.

Cells split to create a copy of themselves, while stars blow apart indiscriminately.

Your Eye has a sphincter like your anus, to allow for differing amounts of light to pass through it's aperture, and a nebula is simply an immense cloud of hot gas.

These false equivalencies, while inspiring and beautiful to some, can be extraordinarily confusing to others. There's a reason images such as these are often used in "God is great!" chain mails and Facebook posts, after all.

[–]sweetpotatosaurus 9 points10 points ago

humans will see patterns anywhere

[–]burhanistan 24 points25 points ago

Anthropomorphising the universe does help to cut down on the stark existential terror.

[–]jonathanrdt 2 points3 points ago

Nor does recognizing similar patterns or shapes have any intrinsic meaning.

[–]JacobCurry 2 points3 points ago

http://i.imgur.com/dKr9Wh.jpg

[–]bnfdsl 3 points4 points ago

when i see you posted my wallpaper as a relevant pic

[–]igotmule 4 points5 points ago

dmt

[–]Crossfox17 14 points15 points ago

Some things look like other things. So deep.

[–]MakesDickishComments 3 points4 points ago

Here, let me play Cpt. Buzzkill:

  • The rendering of the Universe is based on simulations of how we think dark matter is distributed. Even if we somehow were able to pan back from the universe this much it wouldn't look like that.

  • The death of a star pic is the "planetary nebula" phase that only smaller stars go through. (Though our sun will actually go through this itself)

  • The eye pic was probably just added because 2 similarities isn't enough.

These pics might be cool to look at, but there is really nothing to look into here. There are no common laws that caused these phenomena to appear similar, just some bored guy.

[–]StewieBanana 2 points3 points ago

I'm glad I wasn't high when I saw this. I wouldn't have been able to handle it.

[–]TheTrooperKC 10 points11 points ago

It is indeed neat to see the similarities between macro and micro scale things in the universe. The amazing similarities are because the universe runs on math (or rather, math describes how the universe works), so from the very smallest to the very largest, things follow a literally universal language.

I think that fact is just beautiful.

[–]MakesDickishComments 6 points7 points ago

Except that's not actually happening here.

The universe pic is a simulation of dark matter distribution, which works nothing like neuron branching in your brain. The cell division is just caused by the separation of the cytoplasm, which is not related in anyway to the planetary nebula formed when smaller stars begin giving off their mass (as shown in the death of a star). And if you honestly think the layout of cells within your eye follows similar laws to nebula clouds, then I don't know what to say to you.

tl:dr - None of the the side-by-side pictures derive their structure from even remotely similar forces.

[–]IDontHaveTimeForThis 0 points1 point ago

except you're missing the point.

who cares that similar forces are not behind the structure of each of the processes pictured?

the point is that there are indeed visual similarities between the structures of macro & micro processes.

[–]KanyeRealHappy 0 points1 point ago

...But that's completely meaningless. Also, you should look at the post this was responding to.

[–]jerk9877 -1 points0 points ago

Watch secrets in plain sight on YouTube. I'm new to reddit so I don't know how to post links yet. Pretty wild stuff about math the name of the video says it all

[–]Mercury_Milk 4 points5 points ago

[wordswordswords](link)

[–]loafula -1 points0 points ago

It involves a highly complicated process of highlighting and copying a URL, and then pasting it into a comment.

[–]the_living 1 point2 points ago

Pareidolia

[–]amberrgerr 3 points4 points ago

"The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them in their cores and exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy, billions of years ago. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust." - Neil DeGrasse Tyson

[–]InvalidWhistle 4 points5 points ago

Since I was a child, around 10 or so, I had generated this theory that our universe is just the molecule of a larger entity and so and so forth.

That stars are just synapses of maybe a brain cell or whatever. Even though I am much older and grown, I still hold this theory to be my belief.

[–]mrRico 6 points7 points ago

you fucking dickwad that's my theory!

[–]InvalidWhistle 1 point2 points ago

Really? You're like the only other person that has ever had that same theory.

When I was a child, I was pretty much called retarded by ALL my teachers for this theory I was so proud to have thought of all alone. It didn't fit into their small town brain washed christian beliefs which is how they taught us in public school.

[–]mrRico 0 points1 point ago

yeah, man. i was actually going to say the same thing but didn't want to sound like a troll. i instantly added you to my friends list when i read your post. for me, there are too many similarities between the really small and really large to think they are too totally different things. atoms and all the other small stuff exhibit the same types of gravitational properties as planets do to stars. the universe is a scaled. i see life on earth as kind of a parasite (poor choice of words) to our galactic neighborhood. i just hope that one day we find a tiny civilization inside someone's heart or something.

[–]InvalidWhistle 1 point2 points ago

Well if you think about it, we are a virus eating away at that which we so depend on. Until it is no longer viable we'll move on, if we can, and use up another planets resources until it's dead too.

[–]mrRico 0 points1 point ago

i love you.

[–]ipostunderthisname 0 points1 point ago

both of you are bags of cocks! that's my theory!

[–]Dookiestain_LaFlair 0 points1 point ago

How big are the cocks?

[–]ipostunderthisname 0 points1 point ago

about this big. you know... just right but not too much so

[–]Bob_Chiquita 3 points4 points ago

I've seen Men in Black, too.

[–]InvalidWhistle 0 points1 point ago

Hey that's great so have I. But when I was 10 it was 1991 so the movie is kind of predated. Sorry to disappoint.

[–]evolvolution -1 points0 points ago

I also sense theres some sort of connection between the extremely large and extremely small that our minds cant comprehend but maybe one day we will

[–]InvalidWhistle 2 points3 points ago

Yeah like if something is so large that a star would just be a synapse of brain cells then 10 billion years our time could possibly be 10 billionth of a second their time.

I think it makes perfect sense really. But I'm no genius so that maybe why.

[–]throwAwayMama123 0 points1 point ago

I really hope not: I'd hate to think that if someone gets sick and die then a whole universe of creatures inside of them is experiencing a catastrophe.

[–]FOR_SClENCE -1 points0 points ago

This is fucking retarded. It reminds me of "natural" medicine.

Oh look, a brain cell with connections next to a model of the universe. We're totally in someone's brain. Totally.

Telophase has nothing in common with supernovae, except for the general shape of two balls. The colors are dyed in for observation. Again, it has the same general shape. Awesome.

There's nothing even remotely similar between an eye and a supernova remnant.

[–]Siouxsie2011 25 points26 points ago

Nobody's saying this. It's just cool how the patterns are similar.

◔ ◡ ◔

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points ago

It's actually comes down to mathematical and physical laws. Natural phenomena follow the same rules and so form the same patterns, like how shells grow according to the Fibonacci sequence.

[–]stfukettle 1 point2 points ago

Darn it. You beat me to bringing up Fibonacci and seashells by 10 minutes.

[–]RileyWon 1 point2 points ago

Shit, you beat me at saying he beat me by 10 minutes. ;)

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

It was deliberate, naturally. :)

[–]DishonestBystander 2 points3 points ago

Your comment serves on constructive purpose, all you say is "this is wrong," not why or give any reason to eliminate the relationship.

[–]I-Am-The-Hivemind -1 points0 points ago

I think you've missed the point.

[–]GundamWang -1 points0 points ago

You're quite an angry person about this sort of thing.

[–]used_bathwater 1 point2 points ago

This is such a piece of shit.

that's like going oh this piece of shit looks like chocolate ice cream AMAZING!

[–]JediMasterEvan5 0 points1 point ago

Thanks a lot; now I have that terrible Moby song stuck in my head...

[–]ladr0n 1 point2 points ago

Moby made a terrible song?

[–]JediMasterEvan5 0 points1 point ago

We are all made of stars...

[–]ladr0n -1 points0 points ago

That song wasn't terrible, you just have no taste.

[–]StrongKongo 0 points1 point ago

reminds me of this song

http://soundcloud.com/themusictree/tree-universal-ft-ariel

[–]cathouse 0 points1 point ago

Prometheus, are you seeing this?

[–]quippinit 0 points1 point ago

Life IS the Universe

[–]mistakenbaccon 0 points1 point ago

What if.... We Are The Universe.

[–]falor42 0 points1 point ago

Fucking Fractals; How do they work?!?!?!?

[–]Thereminz 0 points1 point ago

things look like other things,..hahaha

[–]BopNiblets 0 points1 point ago

Ctrl C, Ctrl V...

[–]OlsagusJinkis 0 points1 point ago

couldn't resist

[–]afronaut 0 points1 point ago

The Galaxy is on Orion's belt.

[–]checkboxes 0 points1 point ago

I've always found it interesting to think that for all we know, our Universe could be as small as a brain cell on a larger scale.

[–]Tombawun 0 points1 point ago

Sometimes...things look like other things http://i.imgur.com/1oEds.jpg

[–]greatdanger 0 points1 point ago

This upholds my theory that the universe is indeed an infinite fractal.

[–]Minerva89 0 points1 point ago

Gotta love that HuD/SNAP overlay.

[–]judgej2 0 points1 point ago

The connection is closer than you think: it is the same fractals at amazingly different scales.

[–]admiralcaptain -5 points-4 points ago

you can take anything and at certain angles, make it look like what you want it to. I know people think this is whimsical and makes you really think about your meaningless little life as if its something, but these pictures are taken out of context, and your life really does mean nothing.

[–]dustinechos 8 points9 points ago

I agree with you on the first part. The similarities here are more a statement about our brains abstraction algorithms than it is about reality.

I disagree with the second part. Meaning describes a relationship between two objects as interpreted by an intelligent source. If anything, human beings are meaning machines. I can give what ever meaning to anything that I want to and the meaning of my life is to keep kicking ass in the morning and taking names in the evening. It's pretty fucking exciting. Would do again!

[–]mister_fuck 2 points3 points ago

There is no objective 'meaning' parameter to life at all, as in, it neither has 'no meaning' nor 'meaning'. It has as much meaning as the person assigns to it himself, since there is nobody to argue otherwise.

[–]coldcupofjoe 6 points7 points ago

I'm sorry you're so miserable.

[–]MrNapGeo 1 point2 points ago

or it can be seen as ever occurring patterns in nature which can be supported through complex mathematical equations known as fractals... sorry admiralcaptain, but your life is full of meaning, you just have yet to find it :)

[–]admiralcaptain -3 points-2 points ago

god damn, sorry I hit a nerve. its an opinion. one d bags opinion on the fucking internet about life doesn't mean you have to freak the fuck out.

[–]mohawk75 -1 points0 points ago

Not only are we individually meaningless, the whole race and every other living object on this planet are meaningless. The rock we call home will be no more in 5 billion years, either devoured by an expanding sun or thrown out of the milky way by the impending collision with the Andromeda galaxy. I mean, that's it, 5 billion years until the end of everything for humanity, recorded or not. I doubt we'll make it even that long, though, to be honest.

Life on earth is nothing more than a short-lived, insignificant anomaly.

[–]cbm4090 0 points1 point ago

Now try LSD..and become the Universe.

[–]nk_sucks -2 points-1 points ago

stoooooopid. very.

[–]rippedlugan -1 points0 points ago

This reminds me of a childhood theory I had that atoms were small solar systems, and there was probably life on some of the electrons.

[–]riomarde -1 points0 points ago

Reminds me of this TED-ED blog.

[–]GundamWang -1 points0 points ago

That would be awesome if it were true. Maybe one of us has accidentally pissed on a starship, and killed numerous alien scientists.

[–]UserBelowMeBlowsCock -1 points0 points ago

WHAT IF WE ARE ALL INSIDE OF A HUGE GIANT HUMAN OMG.

[–]Foolie -1 points0 points ago

All the coolest things are scale invariant.

[–]naewpaks -5 points-4 points ago

Mind = Blown....

[–]slmizme -3 points-2 points ago

I think about this sometimes. what if we are all just a descending order of things. like one cell is just a galaxy and depper than that all the atoms are planets and our earth is just some hydrogen atom in another body.

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