Expert: Philip Stahl - 7/31/2008

Question
okay i have 3 question for u mr. stahl

1) what's at the end of space?

2)-so a galaxy with high metal content diffuses the spin on stars and diffuses most gamma ray bursts when they explode as supernovae, and if there is they are probably very weak bursts right?

3)so gamma radiation from 8000 light years, even in a concentrated shots is diluted, but concentrated shots are rare right?  

Answer
Hello,

Okay first, I only answer ONE question not series questions. (Since I only get credit for answer one anyway!) Therefore, I will take on number one only.

The "end of space" is not a useful term since one has to have an operational definition for it and there isn't any. It also is not useful because it is fundamentally inaccurate.( There is no end of space one can ask about, only SPACE -TIME.)

Let's get back to the deficiency in the operational definiton.

For example, does one mean the edge of our observational capability? Beyond which no objects are visible to us (since they are beyond out "light cone")? If so it would not be a *real* end of space-time, only the termination point for our observations.

Also, does it include dark energy content in space-time? Or the last parsec where normal mass-energy is found? Or would it refer to the first truly "empty" (of normal mass-energy or dark energy) cubic parsec of space-time?

You see, much of the question depends on what we learn about those "sub-answers", especially the nature of dark energy.

So, the bottom line is that the question is essentially not a useful one on account of not having all the components parts to answer it. At least not yet.

Btw, be sure to check my earlier answer to do with dark energy if you are not already familiar with it.