multiple universes are real.... cooooool

jin choung · 04-15-2003, 06:05 AM

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?art...mber=1&catID=2

for those of you who are pop physicists and sci fi fans, it seems like multiple universes are real... and are more consistent with observable phenom than not.

i guess it's the sci fi nut and dreamer in me but i really like the idea that the universe that we live in is strange and the possibilities are greater than we can imagine....

neat stuff.

jin

mattclary · 04-15-2003, 01:22 PM

Holy crap! That's a brain twister! The universe as an information storage device predicts all possible quantum states would be repeated, including that cup of coffee sitting on your desk. Very cool!

harhar · 04-15-2003, 11:08 PM

Even if the universe is infinate, there are differenet sizes of infinity, like Cantor proved there are more integers than primes even though there are infinite number of both kinds. Hell, I don't think any mathematican truly understands the meaning of infinity.

The articles claims that multi-verse concept is as well tested as the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics, that sounds rather absurd. For starters, relativity and quantum mechanics are the least tested theories in physics. The multi-verse theory is even less tested.

The level1 multi-verse theory in the article sounds like it's saying one's life will be repeated forever. When the universe first began, it's size is small, the probability of another you exist is tiny. When space expand, the probability of another you exist increase, and as the universe keep expanding, the probability of other yous exist keep increasing, and since space = time, it sounds like repeating cycle.

The level2 multi-verse is simply unpredictable, since different universe will have their own physical law.

For level3 multiverse to happen, new universes would have to be generated at every moment. the new generated universe would keep losing symmetry compare to the original universe, until it grow into a totally different universe, and it itself will keep generating universes that keep lose symmetry, and hence infinity... The article seems to think the different universes splitted from a single universe can somehow remerge, but that would violate thermal dynamics and doesn't seem likely.

BTW, Occam's razor is over rated. Newtonian physics is simpler than Quantum mechanics and relativity, but guess which ones are more accurate.

jin choung · 04-15-2003, 11:40 PM

hey harhar,

pretty strong take you have on it.... but since it is scientific america we're talking about, i'd just as soon think that what they're saying is plausible....

besides, unless we have a pretty darn advanced degree in physics, it may be a futile task in trying to pick such things apart. though just saying, 'heck, that sounds like hooey', is at least an honest gut reaction.

jin

Rory_L · 04-16-2003, 02:03 AM

I`m going to hitch a ride on `Rosebud II` and cruise on into The Negative Zone wit Reed Richards!

Heck that sounds like hooey to me

R

jin choung · 04-16-2003, 03:46 AM

hey rory,

that's cool. i'll bet it sounds like hooey to me too. but as mulder's poster says, 'i want to believe'....

it would be so cool to think that there are billions and millions of earths out there representing every possible possibility.... that everything that can be or COULD HAVE BEEN actually IS....

and that there are billions of me's out there and in one of them, there is a version of me that is not pasty, not 130lbs soaking wet and phenomenally successful with the ladies.... that just appeals to my sense of justice....

jin

Lamont · 04-16-2003, 02:09 PM

Hmm, then I should go through the alternates and kill my own self in each one.... thus becoming stronger... of course I'd score with whom ever my alternate self was dating/married to at the moment before I split.

Rei · 04-16-2003, 02:18 PM

I didnt know Lamont was going to be the One!

They cant exist, read a proper journal - New Scientist -

Rei

Lamont · 04-16-2003, 02:30 PM

Hey Jin,

I can loan you some Mojo.

Rory_L · 04-16-2003, 09:52 PM

Hey Jin,

I just can`t resist a smartass reply sometimes! Really, the idea of multiverses is something I also hope is true. That and the Loch Ness Monster, but hopes are fading on that one.

The one I`m really holding out for is intelligent life out there. In an infinite Universe can`t the possibility of that be infinitely probable? The problem is in finding and communicating with them. It`s just our luck that if we ever manage to get to their planet, we`ll find a `gone to lunch` note!

R

mattclary · 04-17-2003, 08:51 AM

Based on this theory, the Loch Ness monster does exist... somewhere.

Rei · 04-17-2003, 01:19 PM

If anyone would wish to read a good book on the subject, i recomend 'The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy'

42

Rei

mattclary · 04-17-2003, 01:24 PM

Or "The Number of the Beast"

jin choung · 04-17-2003, 01:25 PM

and not at all that implausible if you also consider someWHEN....

jin

jin choung · 04-17-2003, 01:29 PM

DC comics' crisis on infinite earths has this motif as well.... not really scientifically grounded but revolutionary in that dc was prescient enough to explain their world by means of a 'multiverse'.

jin