Are multiple universes possible?

Remove all ads!

Years ago I took an advanced math course in which we learned that multiple dimensions could exist and by extension multiple universes. This idea has been used by both fantasy and sci-fi writers.

I find this idea fascinating. Are there an infinite number of mes out there? Is there a world where the Vikings conquered Europe?

What do you think? Is there any real proof for or against this idea?

 

Possible? Most certainly. Proof that they DO exist? Um...


Basically the only thing that would convince me that 'parallel universes' are actual fact is the verifiable passage from one to another.

On the other side of it, by the very nature of a parallel universe (just 'next' to ours in some nth dimension, but not actually interacting in the ones we perceive) makes it impossible to prove it does NOT exist, since it's undetectable by definition.

(this dang cold is giving me plenty of time to dwell on philosophical and theoretical things )

 

I'd say probably not. To me, the concept of "Universe" encompasses the totality of existence. I would see the prospect of other dimensions as actually being encompassed by that definition. If you define Universe as encompassing something other than the totality of existence, than sure, why not?

 

Okay then; I see the point as more than just semantics - 'universal' means ALL.

How about 'multiple dimensions' or 'multiple worlds' ala Many-Worlds Interpretation, and the 'multiverse' is the totality of existence that contains them all?

 

The concept of Multiple Dimensions (I agree with je about the "Universal" subject) is something I have actually thought about before.

After consideration I can say I think it would be imposable to say yes or no on the subject, due to the fact that with no proof it's as static and arguable concept as the belief in god.

 

Given that there is no evidence indicating such a thing I'll go with "No."

I feel that life isn't as complex as most of us - for one romantic notion or another - like to believe so.

 

Agreed. On the flip side, I also feel that life is far more complex than most of us like to believe. Much of what we see as horribly complex is likely quite simple to explain, but many of the "simplest" concepts likely carry layer upon layer of complexity which we cannot see. The one thing I'm sure of is that, when it comes to the universe, we are probably wrong far more often than we are right.

 

Electrons are constantly 'popping' in and out of existence in seemingly random patters...where do they go? No one knows...but perhaps we share our electrons in this universe with another universe. Maybe we are part of a multiverse, with a Sigil-esque place in the centre. Perhaps, and this is just speculations now that I dont necessarily believe, all these supernatural events that take place are actually when two or more of these planes of existence meet momentarily. And remember that on the comsic scale of things, even 100, 000 years is momentarily even though to us it is beyond our imagination.

 

something i have learn while dozing in an advance physic class.

1 - for every matter created, there is an anti-matter, so where is this anti-matter?
2 - some dudes measured the forces of our solar system and they found out that measured result doesn't agree with theoretical result. Of course these "dudes" aren't your average dudes and the measurements are very delicate, so measured result has to agree with theoretical result, UNLESS there is a parallel universe that interacts with our universe that causes the disagreement, or something like that.

[ July 01, 2007, 11:47: Message edited by: teekc ]

 

Didn't you read Dan Brown's book, 'Angels and Demons'? He clearly states that there is a large enough amount of anti-mater hidden somewhere under the Vatican.

I was talking to a fellow student in an advanced physics class and he told me some folks believe there to be a small black hole type of thing near the Bermuda Triangle, and a "white hole" sort of thing somewhere near Japan.

Physics in general is hard and difficult to comprehend...I don't want to even think of advanced physics or the like.

 

The centre of each galaxy is a black hole. There is also a substance known as dark matter that is expanding...but I cant say more on this as my memory is suffering from THC induced amnesia...

 

I hope there are.

 

About parallel universes I don't know, but "where's the antimatter" is a good question. The conventional wisdom says that while early in the age of the universe there were equal amounts of matter and antimatter, as the universe grew older (and cooled off), matter and antimatter annihilated, but not in exactly the same proportion. So today we are left with a small amount of matter, out of which all the stars, planets, galaxies are made.

 

Do hope that matter & antimatter won't meet when you are there...

 

According to super-string theory and, more recently, M theory, the potential does certainly exist, and the Big Bang may have actually been a collission between he boundaries of our universe and another. If so, however, these realities are finite and not of the 'Earth-that-could-have-been' variety. No divergent timestreams here. Each universe began in its own way, with its own initial conditions, and the odds of life even vaguely like ours evolving on any of the worlds in any of them is no greater than it evolving in any other system in our galaxy.

In fact, if recent finding are correct, those odds may be far lower. A recent dilema that has developed in science surrounds four basic numbers. These numbers represent ratios between the most basic principles of our universe. I seem to recall that three of them are the ratios of the relative strenghts of the four basic forces (any 3 ratios would define all 4 forces relative to each other), but I'm not sure what the last number is. Anyway, the dilema is that there doesn't appear to be any reason that these numbers are what they are, or any reason that they are constant, they just kind of happen to be. If any of these numbers were different, the basic structure of our universe would be different, if any 'structure' were possible at all.

If there are other universes out there, there's no guarantee that their 'four basic numbers' are the same as ours, which would mean that chemistry and physics would all be radically different. The formation of atoms may not even be possible in some of them, and in others the basic energies of the universe may have come together in entirely different ways, producing things you and I can't even imagine. Now there are other possible combinations of these four numbers that would produce stable structures that could eventually develop into 'life', potentially, maybe, but no guarantee that any of them actually exist.

Basically, the answer is a definitive maybe, with the caveat that if they do, they probably aren't anything like sci-fi has presented them.