The universe is the 3-surface of a 4-sphere
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Phenomenon explained : "The universe looks the same in all directions".The universe looks the same in all directions, as far as we are capable of observing it. There is no particular reason to prefer one direction above any other. |
Space, as we have discussed, appears to have 3 dimensions because it has 3 degrees of freedom. However, these dimensions need not be envisaged as being real in any fundamental sense, because the position of a space quantum can be adequately understood as a set of coordinates in the quantum system which is the universe. In addition to these three coordinates we can envisage a fourth, the radial direction of the space quantum as a location on the 3-surface of a 4-sphere. This radial coordinate is also just a value in the quantum system of the universe.
The 3-surface of a 4-sphere is the simplest topology which accounts for both the uniformity of the universe in all directions and the finitude of the universe. If the central hypothesis of QO is correct, the universe must be finite.
Presuming that the universe is the 3-surface of a 4-sphere, it follows from the QO expansion of space that the universe will look the same in all directions, because the same physical processes operate everywhere, based on the same natural law and with the same values of fundamental constants. There is no problem of areas of the universe not having been in sufficient contact to be appear to be the same, because the similarity is based on quantum mechanical processes, of which we know that they are not constrained by the speed of light.
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Credibility: This explanation depends on the conclusions that space consists of quanta and that neighboring space quanta are connected by edges. Any other explanation which is compatible with these conclusions must advance reasons why space appears to be uniform in all directions, whilst not actually being so. Such explanations are more complicated, but not impossible. Therefore this explanation must be regarded as tentatively credible. |