We live in an expanding three-dimensional universe. But what
is the shape of the universe? As astronomers try to answer this
question empirically, mathematicians are visualizing the
possibilities. Recent predictions from cosmology, say Adams and
Shapiro, indicate that the universe is most likely one of 10 of
the shapes that topologists call Euclidean manifolds. They look
closely at these shapes, beginning by visualizing
two-dimensional analogues. The possibilities are startling:
Imagine seeing copies of yourself in front and behind, yet each
with a quarter-twist. Such a "quarter-twist cube
space" is but one possible explanation for current
observations, which astronomers hope to refine over the next
decade by finely mapping and analyzing cosmic microwave
background radiation, which allows us to effectively look at
past universes.