An international team of scientists, known as the Collaboration for Observations, Models and Predictions of Anomalies and Cosmic Topology (COMPACT), has cast doubt on long-held beliefs about the universe’s shape. Their groundbreaking research, published in Physical Review Letters, suggests that the universe might not be flat, as previously thought. Instead, it could take on more complex shapes, such as a 3-Torus or its variations.

This revelation could have profound implications for our understanding of the cosmos. A finite universe could create a “hall of mirrors” effect, where telescopes might be observing the same region of space from different angles. Although there is no observational evidence of this yet, it’s possible that the light hasn’t had enough time to reach us.

The COMPACT team reached these conclusions by reanalyzing data from the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), the afterglow of the Big Bang. While previous studies dismissed this data as unsupportive of “exotic” topologies, the new analysis suggests otherwise. The data, they argue, is compatible with simpler flat topologies, opening the door for even more complex structures.

While the study ruled out one particular shape, the E1 3-Torus, it found that two of its variations, E2 and E3, remain possibilities. These shapes involve twists that could create duplicate, yet correlated, views of the universe.

The researchers are now on the hunt for a “topological fingerprint” in the CMB data that could provide further evidence for their theories. This could revolutionize our understanding of the universe and its structure.

The team’s work is a testament to the ever-evolving nature of scientific inquiry and our understanding of the universe. While the shape of the universe remains a mystery, this new research brings us one step closer to unraveling it.

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