# Space-time is finite, but has no boundaries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902 "2004-07-13T15:28:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902/21 "2004-07-15T21:40:48Z")
I had a hard time getting my brain around such concepts back in my Calculus days when we covered [Gabriel’s Horn](http://mathworld.wolfram.com/GabrielsHorn.html). Now it is just about the only thing I’ve retained from my excursions into higher math, except for the constant doodling of hypercubes, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902/22 "2004-07-16T02:13:35Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Pick up “The Fabric of the Cosmos” by Brian Greene. It’s a good current survey of Cosmology and touches on some of this space-time topology stuff. IIRC, Hawking’s model of the universe that shows up in his diagrams in ABHoT implies a “big crunch” in the future. The jury is still out, but these days the big crunch seems less and less likely to happen. Rather, we’re starting to worry about a “big rip”. Yes, I’m somewhat aware of the SOTA in cosmology. This answers nothing about my proposal of “antianthropic” boundaries. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902/23 "2004-07-16T02:14:45Z")
> [@honeydewgrrl](#): > > except for the constant doodling of hypercubes, of course. 2-d projections of the 1-skeletons of hypercubes, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902/24 "2004-07-16T02:19:32Z")
> [@Mathochist](#): > > Yes, I’m somewhat aware of the SOTA in cosmology. This answers nothing about my proposal of “antianthropic” boundaries. Well, actually I was addressing the OP, since a question was asked about other books. Does that not not answer your question? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902/25 "2004-07-16T02:29:50Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Pick up “The Fabric of the Cosmos” by Brian Greene. It’s a good current survey of Cosmology and touches on some of this space-time topology stuff. Thanks, I’ve just added it to my Amazon wish list. ---
**Author:** ![Mathochist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c89c15/32.png) [@Mathochist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mathochist)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902/26 "2004-07-16T02:40:57Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Well, actually I was addressing the OP, since a question was asked about other books. > > Does that not not answer your question? Then why respond to _my_ post? ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902/27 "2004-07-16T03:01:44Z")
> [@Mathochist](#): > > Then why respond to _my_ post? I didn’t. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902/28 "2004-07-16T03:07:21Z")
> [@Mathochist](#): > > 2-d projections of the 1-skeletons of hypercubes, I’m sure. I like doing this too. I’ve been able to draw the 2-d projection of the 1-skeleton of a 7-cube (7 dimensional cube – is that the correct term?) before completely losing track of what was supposed to connect to what. But I find it saves a lot of time to stick to the 1-d projection. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-time-is-finite-but-has-no-boundaries/254902.md?page=1)