When we trace the universe backward, our equations point to an unimaginably hot, dense beginning — not a confirmed object, but the mysterious edge where current physics breaks down.
From History: 13.8 Billion Years Ago: First Millisecond
In the first fraction of a second, the universe cooled enough for the electromagnetic and weak forces to split, setting the stage for stable particles.
We do not know the ultimate fate of the universe, but the leading ideas are that it expands forever, collapses and starts over, or ends in something more extreme.
The Cosmic Microwave Background isn’t the edge of space in an infinite universe—it’s the oldest light we can see, marking a boundary in time, not distance.