News Cosmology

The universe may have a complex geometry — like a doughnut

Scientists previously considered only a small subset of possible topologies

An illustration shows a doughnut shape filled with galaxies

Scientists are considering whether the universe might have a complicated topology, represented by a doughnut shape in this artist’s conception.

J. Law/ESO

By Emily Conover

The cosmos may have something in common with a doughnut.

In addition to their fried, sugary goodness, doughnuts are known for their shape, or in mathematical terms, their topology. In a universe with an analogous, complex topology, you could travel across the cosmos and end up back where you started.