The Universe

Though I dont always understand it, I enjoy reading and watching videos about the universe, cosmology and things to do with QED, String Theory and stuff of that kind. I read a book a few months ago called 13 things that dont make sense. Tis a great read and i'd certainly recommend it. One particular thing that keeps popping up in my merry jaunts around these topics is that the Universe is not only expanding but the expansion is getting faster. Let that one roll around your brain pan for a second. Imagine throwing a pebble into a pond and seeing the ripples it causes getting faster the more they emminate from the epicenter. It doesnt make sense. Thus the way I try to reconcile this in my head is that the universe is shaped like some kind of steep hill or a surf board standing verticaly. The Big Bang started at the summit and the Universe has been rolling down the incline like a ball, getting faster and faster. The thought I just had while watching a talk on TED.com is this: Will this increase in speed ever reach terminal velocity or not?

It's times like this I wish I knew some astro physicists. Anyone have Neil deGrasse Tyson's number?

This brief musing has been brought to you by the number 3.14, the colour fuscia and TED.com Ideas Worth Sharing.