Posted: Sun, Apr 18, 2004, 7:19 PM ET (2319 GMT)
Astronomers said last week that they could explain recent observations of the early universe if the universe if shaped like a horn or funnel. The current issue of New Scientist magazine reports that one group of astronomers believe such a universe could explain why observations of the cosmic microwave background made by NASA's WMAP mission lack any large spots of warm or cold temperature. Under the model proposed by German astronomer Frank Steiner, the universe is finite in volume and shaped like a horn, infinitely long but very narrow at one end, then widening considerably at the other end. Any object that passed through the wide end of the universe would find itself traveling back in on the other side. The model would also explain why the small spots seen in the WMAP data are elliptical, rather than circular, in shape. Future observations by WMAP and other telescopes are planned to test this model.

Related Links:

•  New Scientist article
•  The Guardian article
•  The Independent article