5 Reasons We May Live in A Multiverse

3/17/2017 5ReasonsWeMayLiveinaMultiverse
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5 Reasons We May Live in a Multiverse

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ByClaraMoskowitz,SPACE.comAssistantManagingEditor | December7,201212:25pmET
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http://www.livescience.com/25335multipleuniverses5theories.html 1/9
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Ouruniversemaybeoneofmany,physicistssay.Infact,that'sthemostlikelyscenario.
Credit:Shutterstock/VictorHabbick
The universe we live in may not be the only one out there. In fact, our universe could be just one of an innite number of
universes making up a "multiverse."
Though the concept may stretch credulity, there's good physics behind it. And there's not just one way to get to a multiverse
numerous physics theories independently point to such a conclusion. In fact, some experts think the existence of hidden
universes is more likely than not.
universes is more likely than not.

Here are the ve most plausible scientic theories suggesting we live in a multiverse:

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1. Innite Universes
Scientists can't be sure what

HISTORY the shape of space-time is, but most likely, it's at (as opposed to spherical or even donut-
shape) and stretches out innitely. But if space-time goes on forever, then it must start repeating at some point, because
there are a nite number of ways particles can be arranged in space and time.
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So if you look far enough, you would encounter another version of you in fact, innite versions of you. Some of these
twins
will
be doing
exactly what you're doing right now, while others will have worn a dierent sweater this morning, and still
others will have made vastly dierent career and life choices.
Because the observable universe extends only as far as light has had a chance to get in the 13.7 billion years since the Big
Bang (that would be 13.7 billion light-years), the space-time beyond that distance can be considered to be its own separate
universe. In this way, a multitude of universes exists next to each other in a giant patchwork quilt of universes. [Visualizations
of Innity: A Gallery]
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Spacetimemaystretchouttoinfinity.Ifso,theneverythinginouruniverseisboundtorepeatatsomepoint,creatingapatchworkquiltofinfiniteuniverses.
Credit:Shutterstock/R.T.Wohlstadter

2. Bubble Universes
In addition to the multiple universes created by innitely extending space-time, other universes could arise from a theory
called "eternal ination." Ination is the notion that the universe expanded rapidly after the Big Bang, in eect inating like a
balloon. Eternal ination, rst proposed by Tufts University cosmologist Alexander Vilenkin, suggests that some pockets of
space stop inating, while other regions continue to inate, thus giving rise to many isolated "bubble universes."
Thus, our own universe, where ination has ended, allowing stars and galaxies to form, is but a small bubble in a vast sea of
space, some of which is still inating, that contains many other bubbles like ours. And in some of these bubble universes, the
laws of physics and fundamental constants might be dierent than in ours, making some universes strange places indeed.
3. Parallel Universes
Another idea that arises from string theory is the notion of "braneworlds" parallel universes that hover just out of reach of
our own, proposed by Princeton University's Paul Steinhardt and Neil Turok of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
in Ontario, Canada. The idea comes from the possibility of many more dimensions to our world than the three of space and
one of time that we know. In addition to our own three-dimensional "brane" of space, other three-dimensional branes may
oat in a higher-dimensional space.
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Outuniversemayliveononemembrane,or"brane"thatisparalleltomanyotherscontainingtheirownuniverses,allfloatinginahigherdimensionalspace.
Credit:Shutterstock/SandyMacKenzie

Columbia University physicist Brian Greene describes the idea as the notion that "our universe is one of potentially
numerous 'slabs' oating in a higher-dimensional space, much like a slice of bread within a grander cosmic loaf," in his book
"The Hidden Reality" (Vintage Books, 2011).
A further wrinkle on this theory suggests these brane universes aren't always parallel and out of reach. Sometimes, they
might slam into each other, causing repeated Big Bangs that reset the universes over and over again. [The Universe: Big
Bang to Now in 10 Easy Steps ]
4. Daughter Universes
The theory of quantum mechanics, which reigns over the tiny world of subatomic particles, suggests another way multiple
universes might arise. Quantum mechanics describes the world in terms of probabilities, rather than denite outcomes. And
the mathematics of this theory might suggest that all possible outcomes of a situation do occur in their own separate
universes. For example, if you reach a crossroads where you can go right or left, the present universe gives rise to two
daughter universes: one in which you go right, and one in which you go left.
"And in each universe, there's a copy of you witnessing one or the other outcome, thinking incorrectly that your reality
is the only reality," Greene wrote in "The Hidden Reality."
5. Mathematical Universes
Scientists have debated whether mathematics is simply a useful tool for describing the universe, or whether math itself is the
fundamental reality, and our observations of the universe are just imperfect perceptions of its true mathematical nature. If
the latter is the case, then perhaps the particular mathematical structure that makes up our universe isn't the only option,
and in fact all possible mathematical structures exist as their own separate universes.
"A mathematical structure is something that you can describe in a way that's completely independent of human baggage,"
said Max Tegmark of MIT, who proposed this brain-twistin gidea. "I really believe that there is this universe out there that can
exist independently of me that would continue to exist even if there were no humans."
This story was provided by SPACE.com, a sister site to LiveScience. Follow Clara Moskowitz on Twitter@ClaraMoskowitzor
SPACE.com@Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook&Google+.
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3/17/2017 5ReasonsWeMayLiveinaMultiverse

5 Reasons We May Live in a Multiverse

Scientists can't be sure what

IfYouOwnAHome,You'reEntitledTo WhyDoctorsintheKnowNoLonger SimpleMethod"Regrows"Hair(DoThis

DoctorsCan'tExplainWhyThisFruit IsThisthe"Secret"toEnding ThisAppCanTeachYouaLanguagein

OnceAStar,NowBankrupt 14TimesLottoWinner:DoThisEvery BarronTrump'sIQWillLeaveYou

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