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5.4.2 Leptons
5.4.3 Bosons
5.4.4 Photons
6 Geometry
7 Theories of physics
7.1 Special relativity
7.2 General relativity
7.2.1 Solving Einstein's field equations
7.3 Multiverse hypothesis
7.4 Fine-tuned Universe
8 Historical development
8.1 Mythologies
8.2 Philosophical models
8.3 Astronomical concepts
9 See also
10 References
11 Bibliography
12 Further reading
13 External links
13.1 Videos
Definition
Part of a series on
Physical cosmology
Full-sky image derived from nine years' WMAP data
Big Bang Universe
Age of the universe
Chronology of the universe
Early universe[show]
Expansion Future[show]
Components Structure[show]
Experiments[show]
Scientists[show]
Subject history[show]
Category Category
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v t e
The Universe is customarily defined as everything that exists, everything that h
as existed, and everything that will exist.[22][23][24] According to our current
understanding, the Universe consists of three constituents: spacetime, forms of
energy, including electromagnetic radiation and matter, and the physical laws t
hat relate them. The Universe also encompasses all of life, all of history, and
some philosophers and scientists even suggest that it encompasses ideas such as
mathematics.[25][26][27]
Etymology
The word universe derives from the Old French word univers, which in turn derive
s from the Latin word universum.[28] The Latin word was used by Cicero and later
Latin authors in many of the same senses as the modern English word is used.[29
] The Latin word derives from the poetic contraction unvorsum
first used by Lucr
etius in Book IV (line 262) of his De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things) whi
ch connects un, uni (the combining form of unus, or "one") with vorsum, versum (
a noun made from the perfect passive participle of vertere, meaning "something r
otated, rolled, changed").[29]