Part 3/11:
Einstein’s Insight: Curved Space and Multiple Possibilities
In the 20th century, Albert Einstein revolutionized cosmology with his theory of general relativity. His work revealed that gravity could distort and bend the fabric of space-time, suggesting that the universe might not be flat after all. Instead, it could be curved in a variety of ways:
Flat universe: All matter and energy are balanced so that space continues indefinitely.
Open (saddle-shaped) universe: Space curves outward, and parallel lines diverge.
Closed (spherical) universe: Space curves inward, forming a sphere like our planet.