Posted on 09/24/2007 4:10:41 PM PDT by anymouse
Parallel universes really do exist, according to a mathematical discovery by Oxford scientists described by one expert as "one of the most important developments in the history of science".
The parallel universe theory, first proposed in 1950 by the US physicist Hugh Everett, helps explain mysteries of quantum mechanics that have baffled scientists for decades, it is claimed.
In Everett's "many worlds" universe, every time a new physical possibility is explored, the universe splits. Given a number of possible alternative outcomes, each one is played out - in its own universe.
A motorist who has a near miss, for instance, might feel relieved at his lucky escape. But in a parallel universe, another version of the same driver will have been killed. Yet another universe will see the motorist recover after treatment in hospital. The number of alternative scenarios is endless.
It is a bizarre idea which has been dismissed as fanciful by many experts. But the new research from Oxford shows that it offers a mathematical answer to quantum conundrums that cannot be dismissed lightly - and suggests that Dr Everett, who was a Phd student at Princeton University when he came up with the theory, was on the right track.
Commenting in New Scientist magazine, Dr Andy Albrecht, a physicist at the University of California at Davis, said: "This work will go down as one of the most important developments in the history of science."
According to quantum mechanics, nothing at the subatomic scale can really be said to exist until it is observed. Until then, particles occupy nebulous "superposition" states, in which they can have simultaneous "up" and "down" spins, or appear to be in different places at the same time.
Observation appears to "nail down" a particular state of reality, in the same way as a spinning coin can only be said to be in a "heads" or "tails" state once it is caught.
According to quantum mechanics, unobserved particles are described by "wave functions" representing a set of multiple "probable" states. When an observer makes a measurement, the particle then settles down into one of these multiple options.
The Oxford team, led by Dr David Deutsch, showed mathematically that the bush-like branching structure created by the universe splitting into parallel versions of itself can explain the probabilistic nature of quantum outcomes.
guffaw
Can you expound on this, what the 12 dimensions are? Briefly, of course ... I'm genuinely interested.
I am looking for the next big real Theory to be the “Theory of Gravity”. I.e. a real explanation of as the Force we all know it needs to be. Look for it to have a teeny tiny mass component (of course) (sub-atomic) and a speed which EXCEEDS that of light by 2 to 3 times.
A "Grand Unified" theory which brings Gravitation and the Quantum world into consensus with each other? Of course, Quantum theory would exceed the speed of light by an instantaneous amount (if I understand it correctly), while Gravity would be slow but very powerful over long distances. "Distances" being a moot point regarding Quantum speeds ....
I am not a scientist nor physicist, but just a layman who finds this stuff fascinating ....
This understates parallel universes. To start with, Einstein pointed out that true parallel universes would have to be equivalent to this one. That is, not separated by time, but in coexistence, just with different energy, some of which transcends more than one, like say gravity, but most of which is limited to just their home universe.
But if “dark matter” is really parallel universes, it implies there are only a limited number of them, perhaps a dozen.
This is different from “possible” and “alternate” universes, *or parts thereof*, which are neither permanent or complete.
It is based on a membrane model of the universe, which can be imagined as if our universe was filled with bubbles, and within each are different energy and different rules. Every bit of “matter” is a form of energy made solid and equal to other solids by its surrounding membrane.
In “your” membrane, if you flip a coin, you get heads, and the heads outcome is the “official” outcome. However, the “possible” tails outcome is just as real, as a possibility. So the two outcomes remain real, until you put the coin back in your pocket, when they re-converge. Neither outcome had any real impact beyond that.
However, later in the day you make an “alternative” decision, in this case, you decide if you want to become a US Marine or a ballet dancer. An alternative possibility has outcomes that permanently diverge. Both are just as real, and stay that way. This is like the “endlessly diverging universes” idea, except the entire universe is not involved, just a piece of it.
Yet membranes can permit multiple realities in the same universe. After all, it’s just energy.
“parallel universe”
A phrase used by people who do not know the definition of “parallel” or the defintion of “universe”.
You know... I thought I was reading this. Then, like a dream I realized I wasn't. I only thought that I was reading it. Just like you think you are reading these words right now... But, you're not. It's your imagination.
Now, for something completely different.
Or, maybe we DO ;)
Just reinforces my mother's insistance that I wear clean underwear every day.........
If this is true, then why do I always have the unlucky circumstance of ending up in the screwed up universe?
If you think this one is bad you DO NOT want to see the other one! In fact your double in the other universe has been trying to hire me to whack you so he can assume your life here.
Unfortunately for him (or fortunately for you) the primary currency in his universe is Tofu.
Except it's appearing on Democratic Underground!
Meanwhile everyone on Free Republic is wearing leather vests without sleeves and drinking on the bridge and carrying knives and destroying some helpless planet.
Good to know that as a person with terminal fatigue and insomnia in THIS universe, in a parallel universe my double falls asleep easily each night and wakes up refreshed every morning. Good for her! < :P
Oh, I get it.
It’s not so much that more than one universe exists, but rather that each of us experiences (so to speak) our own little trip through the one verse.
It’s still really one universe with zillions and zillions of of other things going on in it that we don’t know about.
Kinda like a multiplex theatre.
parallel universe - isn’t it lovely?
You mean somewhere out there, Gore became president after all?
This is a pretty thin gruel to base such a broad claim on.
To paraphase Yoda: “Theoretical possibilities do not a reality (or multiple realities) prove.”
Eventally, the cat in the closed box will prove himself to be dead whether or not you take a measurement.
Generally, the least complicated explanation is most likely the correct one. An infinite number of multiple parallel universes is not a simple explanation.
But what do I know? I’m a history major...in this universe, that is... perhaps I’m channeling...
It’s pretty big Hubris to think that atoms (or smaller particles) aren’t really solid (in reality) untill they have observed them! And how would they ever know to test this- as soon as the particles were “observed” according to the mathmaticians they would stop being in flux as soon as they “observed” it!
I hope they are correct though.
Not to worry ... just making a joke, thats all :) .. I too myself do many errors of grammer and speeling also once in a while and sometimese even redundant duplications of phrases and words, as well as repeating myslelf often within the same post all the time .... /grin :)
I I thought sew. :)
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