Multiverses: A Few Different Hypotheses
By: Gabrielle Toutin,
Staff Writer
Until recently, scientists believed that there was only one universe, and that it stretched infinitely. But, then, we realized that if it does stretch infinitely, matter would repeat itself and multiple universes would arise. Or, do we live in a multiverse where every probability that could happen does, and exists in a different universe? Or, do we live in one of many parallel universes? There are a few different hypotheses on the universe, all of which provoke fascinating trains of thought.
Assuming the timeworn idea that the universe is infinite, protons, neutrons, and electrons arrange themselves into atoms, and atoms make up all matter, but there is a limited number of ways the atoms can arrange themselves. This is called the infinite universes theory. Physicist Brian Green compares it to a deck of cards; “Imagine I have a deck of cards, and started to shuffle the deck. Well, the cards will come out in different orders. You shuffle again, the cards will come out in a different order still, but since there are only finitely many cards in the deck, there are only finitely many distinct orders of those cards. It’s a big number, but it does mean that if you shuffle the cards enough times, sooner or later the order of the cards has to repeat” (Wired). This means that the universe could extend an infinite distance, with many universes repeating over and over again infinitely. This means that there are other earths out there, with different histories and different climates and forms of life. There are other duplicates of you out there. An individual in a different universe could be radically different from the same individual in this universe.
There is another theory similar to the infinite universes theory, the many worlds interpretation. This theory states that every possible outcome does happen, each in its own separate universe. This means that in each decision made, the outcomes of the other choices exist in a different universe. It’s as if the universe was one of those books where you can make decisions and flip to a certain page to find the outcome of that decision. How Stuff Works explains that, “This means that if you have ever found yourself in a situation where death was a possible outcome, then in a universe parallel to ours, you are dead” (Clark).
Another hypothesis is that there are many different parallel universes, floating on a “membrane,” suspended on top of one another. It was first proposed by Paul Steinhardt and Neil Turok (Moskowitz). This theory is based on the idea that there are many more dimensions than the three we know. It states that there are other three-dimensional universes, floating in a “higher-dimensional space” (Moskowitz). Despite the name parallel universes, this theory also states that the universes can sometimes collide, “causing repeated Big Bangs that reset the universe over and over again” (Moskowitz).
These theories are so puzzling, with such a tiny observable space to verify them in that we haven’t even come close to proving them yet. However, this doesn’t stop physicists from trying. Engineers are constantly trying to invent new machines that will allow us to peer into the quantum world and discover things we never thought possible. And we are getting closer. Quantum computers already exist, and they may be the key to unlocking Star Trek-type transporters, proving the existence of other universes, and such. Science is only a few centuries old and basically just beginning.
Works Cited
Clark, Josh. HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/parallel-universe2.htm>.
Moskowitz, Clara. "5 Reasons We May Live in a Multiverse." Space.com. 7 Dec. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://www.space.com/18811-multiple-universes-5-theories.html>.
"Theoretical Physicist Brian Greene Thinks You Might Be a Hologram | WIRED." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 16 May 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://www.wired.com/2012/05/geeks-guide-brian-greene/>.