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From: dipirro@amber.DEC (GENERIC PERSONAL_NAME STRING)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: The soap-bubble theory of galaxy formation
Message-ID: <313@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Date: Wed, 8-Jan-86 09:26:35 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.313
Posted: Wed Jan  8 09:26:35 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Jan-86 06:07:34 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.DEC.COM
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 22

>A recent 3-D map of the distribution of the galaxies in the universe
>has given evidence that the mass is distibuted roughly on the surface
>of large bubble shaped regions of space.  The interiors of these regions
>are largely devoid of galaxies.  The effect is a "Soapsuds" distribution
>of galaxies.  This all seems to indicate that some very explosive events
>and the resultant shock waves very early in the history of the universe
>had a profound effect on the evolution of the galaxies.

I also read this study. The 3D map is currently of one quarter of the
northern hemisphere of the universe (a 3D map of the universe would be
quite an accomplishment, but which way is north in the universe?). They expect
to find the same "bubble" effect in the other parts of the universe. Does this
mean we should stop talking about the big bang and start talking about the
big bangs? This seems to imply that *all* galaxies are not moving away from
each other but away from the center of their bubble. Are the bubbles themselves
moving or will some bubbles eventually collide (the bubbles do seem to be
expanding)? In the latter case, we should be able to discover some galaxies
actually moving towards the milky way. I just hope that some omnipotent being
doesn't accidently pop our bubble.

Steve DiPirro
Digital Equipment Corp.