Leading role for a 'nothing' in the universe

The neutrino has long been regarded as an insignificant elementary particle in the universe. Scientists have constantly concerned themselves with the question as to whether the universe is a selfcontained whole or open-ended. The answer is linked closely with the density with which matter is distributed in space. If this matter remains below a critical value, it points to a continous expansion of the universe. The neutrino is now playing an appreciable role with regard to this problem. The article discusses the role of the neutrino in regard with this problem and the consequences thereof