ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Globally hyperbolic manifold

Okay kiddo, let's talk about a globally hyperbolic manifold.

First of all, a manifold is just a fancy math word for a shape that looks like a bunch of flat pieces glued together. Think of a ball made out of triangles or a donut made out of rectangles.

Now, global just means everywhere, all over the place. And hyperbolic is another math word that has to do with the way things bend and curve.

So, when we say a manifold is globally hyperbolic, we mean that it's a shape that bends and curves in certain ways all over the place. Imagine a giant rollercoaster that loops and twists and turns in every direction as far as you can see. That's what a globally hyperbolic manifold is kind of like.

But why do we care about these kinds of shapes? Well, they're really important in physics and astronomy because we use them to describe things like the structure of the universe and how gravity works. Scientists use these shapes to develop theories about how the universe was created and how it will behave in the future.

So, to sum it up, a globally hyperbolic manifold is a really complicated shape that bends and curves in certain ways all over the place, and scientists use it to help explain how the universe works. Pretty cool, huh?
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