The science of Parallel universes

[h_parikhh]

I've decided to read a book 'Parallel Worlds', which centers around the idea of parallel universes in near future. I am curious to know what is the science behind parallel universes. Please help?

[Sensei]

This belongs to science-fiction. There is even no existing scientific methods to examine existence of hypothetical parallel Universes, not to mention their hypothetical difference in science..

[h_parikhh]

This belongs to science-fiction. There is even no existing scientific methods to examine existence of hypothetical parallel Universes, not to mention their hypothetical difference in science..

 

But science fiction in the past has become the reality in the present. So, are there theories which support the idea of parallel universes? I do believe, like Higgs Boson being termed as the God particle, there has to be some substance behind the idea of how parallel universes function. Upon reading an anonymous research paper, I found that black holes are 'entrances' to coexisting universes. Please help me clarify my conception?

Edited April 29, 2015 by h_parikhh

[Spyman]

The multiverse (or meta-universe) is the hypothetical set of infinite or finite possible universes (including the Universe we consistently experience) that together comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, and energy as well as the physical laws and constants that describe them. The various universes within the multiverse are sometimes called parallel universes or "alternate universes".

 

The structure of the multiverse, the nature of each universe within it and the relationships among the various constituent universes, depend on the specific multiverse hypothesis considered. Multiple universes have been hypothesized in cosmology, physics, astronomy, religion, philosophy, transpersonal psychology, and fiction, particularly in science fiction and fantasy. In these contexts, parallel universes are also called "alternate universes", "quantum universes", "interpenetrating dimensions", "parallel dimensions", "parallel worlds", "alternate realities", "alternate timelines", and "dimensional planes," among others. The term 'multiverse' was coined in 1895 by the American philosopher and psychologist William James in a different context.

 

The multiverse hypothesis is a source of debate within the physics community. Physicists disagree about whether the multiverse exists, and whether the multiverse is a proper subject of scientific inquiry. Supporters of one of the multiverse hypotheses include Stephen Hawking, Steven Weinberg, Brian Greene, Max Tegmark, Alan Guth, Andrei Linde, Michio Kaku, David Deutsch, Leonard Susskind, Raj Pathria, Sean Carroll, Alex Vilenkin, Laura Mersini-Houghton, and Neil deGrasse Tyson. In contrast, critics such as Jim Baggott, David Gross, Paul Steinhardt, George Ellis and Paul Davies have argued that the multiverse question is philosophical rather than scientific, that the multiverse cannot be a scientific question because it lacks falsifiability, or even that the multiverse hypothesis is harmful or pseudoscientific.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse

[pavelcherepan]

But science fiction in the past has become the reality in the present. So, are there theories which support the idea of parallel universes? I do believe, like Higgs Boson being termed as the God particle, there has to be some substance behind the idea of how parallel universes function. Upon reading an anonymous research paper, I found that black holes are 'entrances' to coexisting universes. Please help me clarify my conception?

 

The reason why multiverse discussions belong to science fiction rather than science proper is that if those universes are entirely separate from our Universe and can't possibly be observed then there's as much point in discussing it as trying to scientifically prove that God exists/doesn't exist. On the other hand, if these Universes can be observed then these are in fact a part of our own Universe, since Universe includes everything that can possibly be observed, felt and experienced.

Edited April 29, 2015 by pavelcherepan

[h_parikhh]

There have been theories such as: bubble universes theory: where multiple universes are spread as bubbles in an undefined space. And an other theory which states that there is an existence of infinite universes parallel to each other in multiple axes of space and time. Now I am even more curious to know about this topic. *confused* and *curious*

 

The reason why multiverse discussions belong to science fiction rather than science proper is that if those universes are entirely separate from our Universe and can't possibly be observed then there's as much point in discussing it as trying to scientifically prove that God exists/doesn't exist. On the other hand, if these Universes can be observed then these are in fact a part of our own Universe, since Universe includes everything that can possibly be observed, felt and experienced.

 

That makes sense. This is just out of curiosity that I post my questions.

Edited April 29, 2015 by h_parikhh

[shmengie]

Since black holes seem to contain a lot of mass in a volume the size of a singularity, much like the beginning of the universe in the Big Bang theory.

 

Some suppose that each black hole could contain a whole other universe.

 

If the ultimate math of the universe boils down to a fractal equation, this would be a logical extrapolation.

 

--

 

Sci-fi is intended to be fiction... Even though some authors have had ability envision ideas that have matriculated into reality, you can't expect all of them to.

 

Sci-fi that uses an alternate reality, gain artistic license to stretch the imagination, not a good basis for scientific advancement, in my opinion.

[Mordred]

Actually there is two forms of singularity though they are based upon the same causes. One is the singularity described by black holes.

 

The other is when physics can no longer accurately describe a condition, too many infinities occur. This is the case with BB.

 

We don't know the size of the universe, it could be finite or infinite in size. BB doesn't attempt to describe how the universe began.

 

It only describes our region of observation. From 10-43 seconds after BB forward. Prior to that our understanding of the processes breaks down.

 

BB describes our observable universe or region of shared causality.

 

Now back to multiverses, we can only conjecture the possibility, we have zero evidence of a multiverse.

 

The bubble universe conjecture arises from chaotic eternal inflation. In this process small anisotropy regions expand at different rates forming different universes.

 

Keep in mind chaotic eternal inflation is only 1 of 72 viable inflation models. There is numerous equally viable inflation models. The Planck datasets may have reduced this number to roughly 7. As it's measurements support the single scalar models.

[GeeKay]

'Hyperspace' by Michio Kaku is very good on the subject of parallel worlds. Highly recommended - and not just by me!

[jeffellis]

I often wonder if a universe is not the largest unit that exists. For example: many solar systems in a galaxy; many galaxies in a universe; many universes in a ___?