A new study published in the journal Physical Review Letters suggests that the Universe may possess complex topology resembling the form of a donut. In such a universe, a trip through space may end with a return to the starting point.
Traditionally, it is believed that the Universe has a trivial topology, where any closed path can be narrowed to one point. However, Cosmologist Dragan Huther at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, who did not take part in the study, mentions that the possibility of the existence of the universe with unusual topology remains open to study.
Researchers have examined the space microwave background radiation, the light remaining from the early stage of the universe around 380 thousand years ago, in search of signs of complex topology. Despite the absence of compelling evidence, theoretical physicist Glenn Starkman and his collaborators argue that complex topology is still plausible, as previous studies focused on only a limited number of potential topologies.
Of particular interest is the topology of 3-Torus, where the cosmos behaves like a screen in the Pac-Man game: exiting from one edge of the space leads to a return from the opposite side. Scientists are planning to employ machine learning techniques to analyze future data on the distribution of galaxies, especially data obtained using the space telescope of the European Space Agency Euclid.
Starkman underscores that there are strong indicators for discovering an unusual topology, as some characteristics of the cosmic microwave background radiation suggest the asymmetry of the universe, which remains one of the most significant mysteries in modern cosmology.