It is possible for the topology to be non-trivial, but afaik we don’t know for sure; if the universe does loop back on itself, then it would be on large length scales that we can’t measure. We are fairly confident the universe is flat (has 0 curvature) at least. Note that this means that the universe probably doesn’t literally look like a donut: physical donuts have curvature, whereas topological tori need not have curvature. This is because a donut is a 2-torus embedded in 3D space, which isn’t equivalent to 2D space having the same topology as a 2-torus. A simple analogy for those who aren’t aware: an example of a 2D universe with non-trivial topology but flat geometry is a Pac-Man level, which is essentially a flat 2-torus. The curvature is flat everywhere, but it loops back on itself at the edges. Answer from cdstephens on reddit.com
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ESO Supernova
supernova.eso.org › exhibition › images › spheroidal-universe
The toroidal Universe | ESO Supernova
This is a representation of the hypothesised toroidal Universe, or "donut theory" of the Universe. Such a Universe cannot really be visualised this way, as donuts have two dimensional surfaces, and the proposed toroidal Universe would be curved not just through space, but through spacetime.
Discussions

If the universe was toroidal, where would the hole be?
This is one of the common misconceptions about the "shape of the universe", or manifolds in general, i.e. that a manifold is just a sort of cut-out from flat eucledian 3D space. Like if we were living in a doughnut, we could just eat ourselves to the inner edge and find the 'hole'. But manifolds can exist in a meaningful way without reference to an 'outside space' in which they live. You can even define an 'intrinsic' curvature on them, without having to give an outside space in which they curve into. The idea that the 'universe is toroidal' has much more to do with topology than with geometry (though obviously geometry plays an important role). Think of a video game, where when you cross the upper side of the screen you appear at the lower side, and when you cross the right side of the screen you appear on the left side. It might not look like it, but this map has the essential structure of a torus (going along the wide ring of a torus, you'd eventually end up where you started, and the same is true for going along the small ring). Yet, there is no 'hole' to speak of. This is an example of a universe with toroidal topology (but no curvature). When physicists or mathematicians try to sell you on the idea of odd shaped universes, think of it as being a bug on the surface of such an object. You don't know the shape of it, you only can walk along it its principal directions, and for certain shapes and directions you find you end up where you started if you walk long enough, or that you cross a path you've already walked on. And this knowledge sort of defines the 'true shape' of that object, even though it doesn't necessarily exist in that way in 3D space. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/AskPhysics
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September 11, 2020
Is a Torus universe possible?
It is possible for the topology to be non-trivial, but afaik we don’t know for sure; if the universe does loop back on itself, then it would be on large length scales that we can’t measure. We are fairly confident the universe is flat (has 0 curvature) at least. Note that this means that the universe probably doesn’t literally look like a donut: physical donuts have curvature, whereas topological tori need not have curvature. This is because a donut is a 2-torus embedded in 3D space, which isn’t equivalent to 2D space having the same topology as a 2-torus. A simple analogy for those who aren’t aware: an example of a 2D universe with non-trivial topology but flat geometry is a Pac-Man level, which is essentially a flat 2-torus. The curvature is flat everywhere, but it loops back on itself at the edges. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/AskPhysics
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18
June 15, 2023
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Lee Bladon
leebladon.com › home › blog › the toroidal universe
The Toroidal Universe - A geometric theory of space-time
December 21, 2025 - The Toroidal Universe theory proposes that the universe is expanding unevenly because space-time dynamically flows with the geometry of a torus.
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Preprints.org
preprints.org › manuscript › 202406.0674 › v1
The Hyper-Torus Universe Model—A New Paradigm for Understanding Reality[v1] | Preprints.org
June 11, 2024 - Dark Matter and Dark Energy: The ... energy in the universe’s evolution [202,256]. The Hyper-Torus Universe Model (HTUM) seeks to address these limitations by proposing a four-dimensional toroidal structure of the universe [152,158]. This model integrates the Big Bang and ...
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arXiv
arxiv.org › abs › 2508.08747
[2508.08747] On quantum creation of a toroidal universe
August 21, 2025 - We consider the quantum creation of a universe with flat spatial sections and the topology of a 3-torus, taking into account the effect of Casimir energy. We show that the corresponding instantons are singular.
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ScienceDirect
sciencedirect.com › science › article › pii › S0550321319303578
Spinning toroidal brane cosmology; A classical and quantum survey - ScienceDirect
November 26, 2019 - We construct a cosmological model based on a free particle model which is constrained on an embedded toroidal brane, with a general rotation around a …
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ResearchGate
researchgate.net › publication › 357689261_A_BRIEF_DESCRIPTION_OF_A_TOROIDAL_UNIVERSE
(PDF) A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A TOROIDAL UNIVERSE
January 1, 2022 - that the universe is self-contained and finite; that dark energy (theorized as being responsible · for the expansion of the universe) may not be required, unless it forms part of an internal · confinement mechanism; and that the ‘cosmological ...
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Amazon
amazon.com › Toroidal-Universe-Second-Electrodynamic-Continuum › dp › B0GTTNBJHG
The Toroidal Universe: Second Edition (Electrodynamic Continuum Papers): hills, ian, hills, ian: 9798253357804: Amazon.com: Books
The Toroidal Universe explores one of nature’s most persistent patterns: the toroidal form that appears wherever energy circulates, stabilises, and folds back on itself. With clarity and restraint, Ian Hills traces how standing waves, boundaries, ...
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Medium
arielist.medium.com › torus-flow-ai-completionism-and-the-edging-of-the-universe-bd7be8d7beed
Torus flow, AI completionism, and the edging of the universe 🌠 | by Ariel Meadow Stallings | Medium
December 31, 2024 - This is a torus field. Image courtesy of The Toroidal Universe. Here’s my working theory: god replicates itself through pleasure. To be clear, I’m a nondualist (not a theist) so I think of god as physics and chemistry and biology. And when I talk about pleasure, I don’t necessarily mean ...
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Sciety
sciety.org › articles › activity › 10.20944 › preprints202406.0674.v6
The Hyper-Torus Universe Model—A New Paradigm for Understanding Reality | Sciety
This paper introduces HTUM's core ... suggests that the universe functions as a quantum system where all outcomes are inherently connected, with consciousness playing a significant role in actualizing reality....
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Htum
htum.org › pdf › Hyper-Torus-Universe-model-HTUM_07-20-2024.pdf pdf
The Hyper-Torus Universe Model A New Paradigm for Understanding Reality
HTUM presents dark matter and dark energy as nonlinear probabilistic phenomena within this toroidal · framework, offering a unique perspective on their nature and interactions. The model proposes a mechanism · for wave function collapse through universal self-observation, bridging quantum mechanics and gravity.
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Quora
quora.com › Is-the-universe-likely-to-be-shaped-like-a-torus
Is the universe likely to be shaped like a torus? - Quora
Answer (1 of 10): It could be. The universe can have a positive curvature, negative curvature, flat curvature, or possibly a combination of all two or three. A positive curvature corresponds to a critical density of the universe of more than one (Ω > 1), which would mean we live in a closed uni...
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ResearchGate
researchgate.net › figure › A-Torus-as-a-dynamic-model-for-the-recreation-rebirth-of-our-Universe-from-a-wormhole_fig4_326972894
(A) Torus as a dynamic model for the recreation (rebirth) of our... | Download Scientific Diagram
Download scientific diagram | (A) Torus as a dynamic model for the recreation (rebirth) of our Universe from a wormhole structure, connecting an ultimate black hole (collecting and compressing all information) with a white hole (transmission and unfolding of information into a new version of the universe, see Meijer and Geesink, 2017; (B) Torus dynamics allow a twisted knotting into a 4-D space aspect of reality, C: Cartoon of Calabi-Yau manifold model of a multi-dimensional space (D) formation of various types of torus information knots, that may represent standing waves or attractors in the
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Quora
quora.com › Whats-the-general-opinion-in-cosmology-of-the-universe-being-torus-shaped
What's the general opinion in cosmology of the universe being torus shaped? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): I just now answered a very similar question … well, not about any “general opinion,” but that the torus shape has been seriously suggested by some cosmologists — see: * Is the Universe likely to be shaped like a torus? * What is the shape of the Universe, and what is the 4th d...
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Shape_of_the_universe
Shape of the universe - Wikipedia
3 weeks ago - A Universe infinite in size, using Copernicus, explained by Thomas Digges in: A perfit description of the caelestiall orbs, published 1576, was a conceptual break from the tradition of the reality of a celestial outer realm known as Paradise. Einstein in consideration of his general theory of ...
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VICE
vice.com › home › the universe is a giant donut that we live inside, new research suggests
The Universe Is a Giant Donut That We Live Inside, New Research Suggests
August 9, 2024 - The idea that the universe has a 3D torus shape ties in to some pretty far-out stuff, like the CIA’s 1980s Gateway report on psychic phenomena.
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Amazon
amazon.com › Toroidal-Universe-Second-Electrodynamic-Continuum-ebook › dp › B0GQJNMWB6
Amazon.com: The Toroidal Universe: Second Edition (Electrodynamic Continuum Papers) eBook : hills, ian: Kindle Store
The Toroidal Universe explores one of nature’s most persistent patterns: the toroidal form that appears wherever energy circulates, stabilises, and folds back on itself. With clarity and restraint, Ian Hills traces how standing waves, boundaries, ...
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Universe Space Tech
universemagazine.com › home › news › 3-torus: scientists calculate the unexpected shape of the universe
Universe is an endless hall of mirrors
May 22, 2024 - Scientists describe this effect as a “hall of mirrors”, where the lines of sight inside the 3-torus form closed loops that return to the observer, creating the impression of endless repetition.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/askphysics › if the universe was toroidal, where would the hole be?
r/AskPhysics on Reddit: If the universe was toroidal, where would the hole be?
September 11, 2020 - It means the universe behaves as a 3D generalization of the 2D toroidal surface. Asking where is the center is meaningless, as it is meaningless asking where is cylinder's center in a Mario's stage.