Bzzzt. Elsewhere is the term cosmologists use for "outside the universe's lightcone." Nothing outside the light cone can ever interract with us, Rick. It's irrelevant. Any speculations about what's outside the lightcone (Elsewhere) are irrelevant as they cannot be tested, confirmed or disproven. That sinking in yet?
Here's a picture to help you get it:
^ \ the /
| \ universe /
| \(lightcone)/
| Elsewhere \ / Elsewhere
| \ /
t \ /
i \ /
m \ /
e big bang
Elsewhere Elsewhere
Will another picture help, Rick?
time
^
| ^
\ | |<--------allowed for massive body
\ | | ^
\ | | /<-----allowed for light
\ | | /
lightcone----->\--------+---+--->/ ^<----not allowed
\ | | / /
\ | | / /
\ | | / /
\ | | / /
\ | | / /
\ || / /
\ ||/ /
\|//
event--------> +-------------------------->
/ space
/
/
/
V
Special relativity is what states that nothing outside the lightcone can
interract with anything inside the lightcone, Rick. "This means that
the path of any object through space and time must be represented by a
line that lies within the light cone at each event on it." General
relativity's predictions (when quantum mechanics are added in; remember
that GR is a "classical" theory) are even more profound; space-time can
be curved to form a space-time without edge or boundary (as in a 4-D
hypersphere, old bean). Guess what big bang/big crunch describes?
How about some definitions? After all, we want to help penetrate that drunken stupor of yours.
event: A point in space-time, specified by its time and
place [Hec's note: gee, Rick, looks like an
event requires time and space, just like I told
you, eh?].
space-time: The four-dimensional space whose points are events.
lightcone: A surface in space-time that marks out the possible
directions for light rays passing through a given
event.
general relativity: Einstein's theory based on the idea that the laws
of science should be the same for all observers, no
matter how they are moving. It explains the force
of gravity in terms of the curvature of a
four-dimensional space-time.
(Definitions and diagram #2 from _A Brief History of Time_, Hawking,
Bantam, 1988, reproduced (sorta) without permission, but I'm sure
Mr. Hawking wouldn't mind an attempt to educate the ignorant.)
RV>Obvously you can prove this.... Prove it, then I'll believe you.
So, now that you have your evidence, complete with references, you believe me, right? How nice! Now sober up and stop contemplating your navel.