You heard it here first, or last, or anyway here: The universe is a donut

Yeah. A donut. We learned the truth at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, or else ... somewhere else. Here's the free donut:

The idea that the universe is finite and relatively small, rather than infinitely large, first became popular in 2003, when cosmologists noticed unexpected patterns in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) – the relic radiation left behind by the Big Bang.

- from Zeeya Merali's "Doughnut-shaped Universe bites back", Nature News (28 May 2008)

The hole is the copy behind the paywall (premium content). Sorry. There are quite a few comments though, including,

I believe the universe IS donut shaped. That's because the closest 'other' universe is shaped like a giant cup of hot coffee - and we're headed straight for it.

25 May, 2008 Posted by: Arfy Warfy

I haven't heard much more than Homer Simpson jokes about this one, and I am still trying to catch up with the surfer dude who solved the riddle of the universe last November.

P.S.: I realize that this illustration is Earth as a donut, but look, we must start somewhere.