Since the age of the Universe is determined to be ~13.8 billion years, the radius of the Observable Universe appears to be 13.8 billion light years.
I have seen no evidence to conclude that the edge of the Universe as we know it extends much beyond the edge of the Observable Universe. Beyond that, empty space should extend to infinity.
Maybe, but equally, there's also no evidence to say the whole universe can't be a lot bigger.
I think the uncertainty comes from the inflation theory which is a bolt on to the big bang theory, it's this which needed faster than light expansion. If that turns out to be correct then the whole universe will be bigger than 13.8 billion light-years. If not then your thinking is nearer the truth.
It looks like we both agree that space, empty, (or full of something in my theory) extends indefinitely - what I call 'The Infinite'.
So, now, how do you explain why there's just our universe, a one-off, and that all the rest of 'the infinite' is empty? I'm thinking that whatever laws allowed, or enabled or gave rise to our universe must also apply throughout 'the infinite'. Therefore I think 'the infinite' contains an infinite number of other universes, after all, physicists love to assume the laws are the same all over our universe so why not beyond? Why do you think the here and now is a special one-off.
If space was truly empty then I see only 2 choices our universe has always been here or it came from nothing. If its always been here then why would it have waited an infinite amount of time and then suddenly decided to go bang 13.8 billion years ago? The only way around that is to invoke the cyclic universe theory i.e. endless rebounds and re-collapsing.
To summarise, how I see your explanation as working, is a universe, sitting on its own in infinite empty space, endlessly re-collapsing and rebounding. It could also expand indefinitely, but that would be the end of everything if the rest of space is empty.
The only thing that works for me is to assume all 'the infinite' contains infinite universes and crucially that all space is filled or composed of something such as quantum field/foam/fluctuations, aether, vacuum energy, dark energy or whatever
If you accept space is infinite, then I find it too bizarre to think our universe is the only matter in this infinite space. It would mean stuff in our universe is a one-off special, an other-wise exception to an infinite void. There's no reason to believe any laws of physics could allow 'something' here and absolutely nothing any where-else. What enables or gives rise to something here, will enable or give rise for something to be everywhere- so no void! Stuff here, is not a special case -
If there's something here, there's something everywhere!
Since there's no reason to believe our stuff and laws of physics are special to our universe, it's reasonable to assume stuff and laws are the same throughout 'the infinite'. This, in turn, means there's a connection or something in common throughout 'the infinite'. So I suggest the underlying commonality is just space and what it consists of, (quantum field/foam/fluctuations, aether, vacuum energy, dark energy or whatever).
If the laws of physics allow one universe, the same laws must allow an infinite number. So, if there's a universe here, why not over there and over there etc., until there's an infinite amount. So, I suggest that whatever mechanism gives rise to a universe, then there must be an infinite number of them!
Furthermore, if you accept that matter-energy can not be created or destroyed, then I think, an infinite number universes have always existed and always will (through recycling of a mixture of matter from other expanded and universes)
'Steady State of The Infinite' theory
Infinite space - Infinite Universe's - No beginning - No end
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