If we had anything that could see farther then we just estimate the size of the universe to be bigger. My definition of the universe is, how far can we see. Even if we saw darkness behind it, that's still part of the universe

A side issue for me on this question of the age of the universe is we often think of the universe as very old at 13+ billion years, so there must be lots of species out there like us. But compared to the projected life span of the universe, in trillions of years, it could be considered "young". Evolution of species like us might take billions and billions of years, so maybe we're the first, or amongst the first to evolve. I don't know, as it isn't my field, but I've seen references to this possibility in documentaries, and I find it interesting, especially when you hear people say they think the universe must be full of other beings because of the 13+ billion of years. Maybe not.

One of the paradoxes regarding the Universe involves whether the Universe is still expanding and whether sometime in the future is will cease to expand and begin to contract.

If hypothetically everything was brought together in the Big Bang event. This means by inference that everything that existed previously was destroyed in the event. Therefore, the only matter that exists is that which was introduced in the subsequent event.

Likewise, if the Universe is expanding, then it must have an outer edge, as matter wasn't magically scattered everywhere automatically in the explosion. If it has an edge (outer limit) and the only matter extant is that existing in the expanding Universe, then hypothetically the area outside the outer most edge doesn't exist.

That is to say, its not empty, it just doesn't exist. Until matter and time are introduced as the Universe expands, then it doesn't exist.

The last description I've heard regarding the Univere's shape is that of a toroid (a donut). That means that if it were possible for a ship to reach the outer edge, it wouldn't continue forward, but wrap around the outside of the toroid. The ship couldn't continue forward, as there is no forward.

We are only beginning to see. In biblical times god was on a high mountain and he was afraid we might climb up to the heavens where he is. Can we really see 13.4 billion light years away today? What if the universe was endless? I mean totally endless.

It’s not that we don’t have telescopes that can see past 13.8 billion light years, the light beyond that point has not reached us yet.

``I've a question on that. There is only one atom per six square inches in the vacuum of space. At what distance will those atoms prevent light from taveling? For example, if the atoms in the thickness of a sheet of paper can stop light, shouldn't it work the same in space?

Maybe where the big bang came from.

I don’t like to make assumptions, hell, that’s why I’m an atheist. However, I think a reasonable assumption would be that we have allot to learn about what’s at the limit of the observable universe. I don’t know is the best place to position yourself for learning. I howevever, I won’t be the one doing the reasearch. I can only pontificate on the reasearch of others. I like the idea of a multiverse such that we may not see beyond our own yet it’s where another begins... keeping in mind that I’m a guitarists

This sounds like a question for @Astrochuck

If you calculate the point where the rate of expansion relative to us surpasses the speed of light, it's around 13.9 billion light years. In theory, space would be expanding away from us faster than the speed of light beyond that point. Which means we should never see any light emitted beyond 13.9-14 billion light years.. unless something changes with expansion.

If you factor in the big bang and the different rate of expansion in the early universe, that point is at about 16 billion light years.. but I have some skepticism with the big bang.

Either way, there is an observational boundary to the universe. The universe could be 37 trillion billion light years across or it could be infinite, but we will likely never know.

Trump's wall?