What if the universe is infinite in every direction, macro and micro?

[Anomalism]

We usually think of the universe as infinite in space. Galaxies receding endlessly, stars stretching beyond our sight. But what if that infinity exists at the micro level too? What if there’s no bottom, no smallest scale, just as there may be no top?

Imagine every galaxy we see is the size of an electron in another universe. And every electron in our world could be an entire galaxy in a cosmos we’ll never reach. Boundaries vanish. Space and time become fractal, repeating endlessly, with their own rules at each level. Physics gives us limits; Planck length, quantum discreteness, but maybe those are just local laws. Somewhere else, somewhere smaller or larger, reality could obey entirely different rules, endlessly.

In this scenario, infinity isn’t abstract; it’s layered, recursive, and tangible. No beginnings, no ends, just scale upon scale, each real to whatever consciousness perceives it. Reality might not be a container at all. It could be a mirror facing mirrors, reflecting universes within universes, forever.

Infinite regress at micro and macro levels would mean there’s no ultimate base reality, just nested realities, each as real as the one we occupy.

 

[The Irish Ram]

If there is no base reality, where did the universe's Laws of Physics originate?

 

[Anomalism]

If there is no base reality, where did the universe's Laws of Physics originate?

You’re assuming that physical laws need a single origin, but in an infinite, recursive universe, they don’t. Each layer could have its own consistent rules that work locally, just as chess rules work in a game of chess but tell you nothing about Go. The laws we see could be emergent patterns within our scale, stability enforced where it’s needed. No base reality doesn’t mean chaos; it means rules exist where they need to exist, at every level, endlessly.

 

[evenflow1969]

We usually think of the universe as infinite in space. Galaxies receding endlessly, stars stretching beyond our sight. But what if that infinity exists at the micro level too? What if there’s no bottom, no smallest scale, just as there may be no top?

Imagine every galaxy we see is the size of an electron in another universe. And every electron in our world could be an entire galaxy in a cosmos we’ll never reach. Boundaries vanish. Space and time become fractal, repeating endlessly, with their own rules at each level. Physics gives us limits; Planck length, quantum discreteness, but maybe those are just local laws. Somewhere else, somewhere smaller or larger, reality could obey entirely different rules, endlessly.

In this scenario, infinity isn’t abstract; it’s layered, recursive, and tangible. No beginnings, no ends, just scale upon scale, each real to whatever consciousness perceives it. Reality might not be a container at all. It could be a mirror facing mirrors, reflecting universes within universes, forever.

Infinite regress at micro and macro levels would mean there’s no ultimate base reality, just nested realities, each as real as the one we occupy.

That is how I have viewed it for quite a while.

 

[Anomalism]

That is how I have viewed it for quite a while.

Do you have anything to add?

 

[Hafar1014]

We usually think of the universe as infinite in space. Galaxies receding endlessly, stars stretching beyond our sight. But what if that infinity exists at the micro level too? What if there’s no bottom, no smallest scale, just as there may be no top?

Imagine every galaxy we see is the size of an electron in another universe. And every electron in our world could be an entire galaxy in a cosmos we’ll never reach. Boundaries vanish. Space and time become fractal, repeating endlessly, with their own rules at each level. Physics gives us limits; Planck length, quantum discreteness, but maybe those are just local laws. Somewhere else, somewhere smaller or larger, reality could obey entirely different rules, endlessly.

In this scenario, infinity isn’t abstract; it’s layered, recursive, and tangible. No beginnings, no ends, just scale upon scale, each real to whatever consciousness perceives it. Reality might not be a container at all. It could be a mirror facing mirrors, reflecting universes within universes, forever.

Infinite regress at micro and macro levels would mean there’s no ultimate base reality, just nested realities, each as real as the one we occupy.

Infinite is a hypothetical construct. We create terms to describe concepts we cant measure of understand

 

[Anomalism]

Infinite is a hypothetical construct. We create terms to describe concepts we cant measure of understand

Hey, thanks for that. Do you have anything else to add?

 

[Slade3200]

We usually think of the universe as infinite in space. Galaxies receding endlessly, stars stretching beyond our sight. But what if that infinity exists at the micro level too? What if there’s no bottom, no smallest scale, just as there may be no top?

Imagine every galaxy we see is the size of an electron in another universe. And every electron in our world could be an entire galaxy in a cosmos we’ll never reach. Boundaries vanish. Space and time become fractal, repeating endlessly, with their own rules at each level. Physics gives us limits; Planck length, quantum discreteness, but maybe those are just local laws. Somewhere else, somewhere smaller or larger, reality could obey entirely different rules, endlessly.

In this scenario, infinity isn’t abstract; it’s layered, recursive, and tangible. No beginnings, no ends, just scale upon scale, each real to whatever consciousness perceives it. Reality might not be a container at all. It could be a mirror facing mirrors, reflecting universes within universes, forever.

Infinite regress at micro and macro levels would mean there’s no ultimate base reality, just nested realities, each as real as the one we occupy.

There’s not really a what if…. The universe is infinite. We are just limited in our ability to understand it given our perception of time

 

[The Irish Ram]

Infinite is a hypothetical construct. We create terms to describe concepts we cant measure of understand

But isn't that where quantum physics takes over?

You’re assuming that physical laws need a single origin, but in an infinite, recursive universe, they don’t. Each layer could have its own consistent rules that work locally, just as chess rules work in a game of chess but tell you nothing about Go. The laws we see could be emergent patterns within our scale, stability enforced where it’s needed. No base reality doesn’t mean chaos; it means rules exist where they need to exist, at every level, endlessly.

I am assuming that, along with Einstein, when he saw the universe expanding, he knew it had a beginning. That was required for our universe. Cosmos means order or arrangement.
What determines the rules necessary for other universes? I don't look at universes like a wide expanse. I look at them as existing in other dimensions. Hawking figured out that there could be an infinite number of dimensions.
So think of a bathtub full of bubbles. Each bubble is a distinct dimension, with what ever rules they need to exist. We are one of the bubbles in an infinite amount of bubbles.

And yet, as limitless as we see our universe, and others see theirs, there are 6 more dimensions that are still hidden.
I no longer see the wide expanse because of the physics of dimensions.
Think of the giant canvas backdrops on the stages in the vaudeville era, that depicted scenery, or farmland, or whatever the play was about. Imagine one that depicts the moon and the stars, and the planets. Now, envision it being torn in half, showing the dimension behind it, or it being on fire, or rolled up. Because dimensions can do that.
How is that?

 

[sparky]

I can just imagine aliens appearing out of whatever dimension and blowing our minds over all this......~S~

 

[Anomalism]

But isn't that where quantum physics takes over?


I am assuming that, along with Einstein, when he saw the universe expanding, he knew it had a beginning. That was required for our universe. Cosmos means order or arrangement.
What determines the rules necessary for other universes? I don't look at universes like a wide expanse. I look at them as existing in other dimensions. Hawking figured out that there could be an infinite number of dimensions.
So think of a bathtub full of bubbles. Each bubble is a distinct dimension, with what ever rules they need to exist. We are one of the bubbles in an infinite amount of bubbles.

And yet, as limitless as we see our universe, and others see theirs, there are 6 more dimensions that are still hidden.
I no longer see the wide expanse because of the physics of dimensions.
Think of the giant canvas backdrops on the stages in the vaudeville era, that depicted scenery, or farmland, or whatever the play was about. Imagine one that depicts the moon and the stars, and the planets. Now, envision it being torn in half, showing the dimension behind it, or it being on fire, or rolled up. Because dimensions can do that.
How is that?

Your bubble and backdrop analogy actually lines up pretty well with my hypothesis. Each bubble or dimension could have its own internal rules, fully consistent for that scale, without needing a single origin for the laws. The tearing or rolling up of the stage backdrop could be seen as higher-dimensional processes influencing what we perceive, but only locally.

Infinity at every scale would mean no base reality is required. The rules exist wherever they must, and each layer or bubble is real in its own context. The cosmos becomes a nested, self-similar structure, rather than a single stage with one overarching script.

 

[westwall]

We usually think of the universe as infinite in space. Galaxies receding endlessly, stars stretching beyond our sight. But what if that infinity exists at the micro level too? What if there’s no bottom, no smallest scale, just as there may be no top?

Imagine every galaxy we see is the size of an electron in another universe. And every electron in our world could be an entire galaxy in a cosmos we’ll never reach. Boundaries vanish. Space and time become fractal, repeating endlessly, with their own rules at each level. Physics gives us limits; Planck length, quantum discreteness, but maybe those are just local laws. Somewhere else, somewhere smaller or larger, reality could obey entirely different rules, endlessly.

In this scenario, infinity isn’t abstract; it’s layered, recursive, and tangible. No beginnings, no ends, just scale upon scale, each real to whatever consciousness perceives it. Reality might not be a container at all. It could be a mirror facing mirrors, reflecting universes within universes, forever.

Infinite regress at micro and macro levels would mean there’s no ultimate base reality, just nested realities, each as real as the one we occupy.

No we don't. The Universe is expanding, thus it has a defined border, and thus it can't be "infinite". The question is what is it expanding in to.

 

[Anomalism]

No we don't. The Universe is expanding, thus it has a defined border, and thus it can't be "infinite". The question is what is it expanding in to.

The expansion of matter doesn’t create a border. There's no edge waiting to be hit. Areas matter hasn’t reached yet are still space. Infinity and expansion aren’t contradictory. Space can be boundless while matter moves apart within it.

 

[frigidweirdo]

We usually think of the universe as infinite in space. Galaxies receding endlessly, stars stretching beyond our sight. But what if that infinity exists at the micro level too? What if there’s no bottom, no smallest scale, just as there may be no top?

Imagine every galaxy we see is the size of an electron in another universe. And every electron in our world could be an entire galaxy in a cosmos we’ll never reach. Boundaries vanish. Space and time become fractal, repeating endlessly, with their own rules at each level. Physics gives us limits; Planck length, quantum discreteness, but maybe those are just local laws. Somewhere else, somewhere smaller or larger, reality could obey entirely different rules, endlessly.

In this scenario, infinity isn’t abstract; it’s layered, recursive, and tangible. No beginnings, no ends, just scale upon scale, each real to whatever consciousness perceives it. Reality might not be a container at all. It could be a mirror facing mirrors, reflecting universes within universes, forever.

Infinite regress at micro and macro levels would mean there’s no ultimate base reality, just nested realities, each as real as the one we occupy.

Totally possible.

The Big Bang may or may not have happened. Potentially we're in a part of the universe that saw enough matter converge on a single point, that it then exploded/imploded and now is moving away from that, and the rest of the inverse is doing the same but elsewhere. Perhaps some of the galaxies we're seeing are from other big bangs.

 

[westwall]

The expansion of matter doesn’t create a border. There's no edge waiting to be hit. Areas matter hasn’t reached yet are still space. Infinity and expansion aren’t contradictory. Space can be boundless while matter moves apart within it.

There can be no border with infinity, the two are mutually exclusive.

The question is is the Universe a bubble, filled with matter, but outside that bubble is nothing.

Or, is there some emptiness that the expanding Universe is filling.

Those are the two questions.

 

[Anomalism]

There can be no border with infinity, the two are mutually exclusive.

The question is is the Universe a bubble, filled with matter, but outside that bubble is nothing.

Or, is there some emptiness that the expanding Universe is filling.

Those are the two questions.

The universe isn’t expanding into anything; space itself is what’s stretching. Infinity means there’s no outside edge, so the universe doesn’t need a pre-existing emptiness to expand into. Matter moves apart within space, but space itself doesn’t require a container or bubble. There’s no outside for it to fill. Expansion and boundlessness coexist naturally.

 

[sparky]

~S~

 

[MisterBeale]

 

[westwall]

The universe isn’t expanding into anything; space itself is what’s stretching. Infinity means there’s no outside edge, so the universe doesn’t need a pre-existing emptiness to expand into. Matter moves apart within space, but space itself doesn’t require a container or bubble. There’s no outside for it to fill. Expansion and boundlessness coexist naturally.

Possibly, if you are in the camp that says the Universe is a bubble, beyond which is nothing.

That's the beauty of cosmology, no one knows.

 

[MostBoringManInTheWorld]

If there is no base reality, where did the universe's Laws of Physics originate?

It was all a dream.