S4F: Parallel Worlds

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by David Siegel Bernstein, PhD

Our topic de jure: Parallel Worlds, a staple of science fiction.  There are at least four theories you can use to explain an alternate Earth or an alternate version of a character in your story. They are all reasonably justified and easily summarized in the realm of science fiction, but be warned, although they are mathematically consistent, none have yet to be scientifically proven.

Now brace yourselves because each one requires really, really, large numbers to work.

A. Parallel Worlds from MATH

The equations in physics describing the Big Bang have more than one solution where each solution could be interpreted as another version of the universe. In fact string theory has 10^500 different solutions (that’s 1 followed by 500 zeros) for the Big Bang.

For the record, the Big Bang was neither big nor a bang.  You can thank Fred Hoyle for the miss-naming.

B. Parallel Worlds from DISTANCE

We live in a large universe—larger than we can observe.  If we assume the universe is infinitely spread out but not necessarily infinitely old (best estimate is that it is 13.73 billion years old) then combinations of events will repeat.

Consider the odds against the combination of atoms coming together to make you—you.  They were fantastically against this occurrence; probably less than 1 in 42 x 10^403149.  That’s 1 in 42 followed by 403,149 zeros! But here you are reading this, so congratulations on winning the life lottery.

Let’s say you get a comic book (nothing wrong with comics, they’re cool) every time you win a game of Jenga. It turns out you win about 1 out every 5 games.  If you played 15 times, how many comics would you expect to win?  The answer is 3.  I’m not trying to insult you with simple math questions but rather I’m preparing you for the next paragraph.

Imagine if you played an infinite number Jenga games and your average number of wins is only 1 in 42 x 10^403149.  Guess what: given enough time you will win, and given even more time, you will win again.  In this example I assumed infinite time instead of infinite space, but I think you get the idea.

So this theory uses probability to prove in an infinitely large (or near infinite) universe there will be regions of space like ours and, no matter how unlikely, there is another planet like Earth and another version of you. And because we know there is some combination of atoms have created at least one Earth (with us on it) there has to be some non-zero chance for another one existing somewhere, really, really far away. Whatever else you say about a 1 in 42 x 10^403149 chance—it isn’t zero.  So given enough space it to play out, there will another you.

C. The Many-Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Remember quantum mechanics “is” (proven by experiment), but there are different interpretations of what “is”—is.  Originally suggested by Hugh Everett, the Many-Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics is a fun (easiest) way to invoke quantum physics into your science fiction.

Objects can exist in multiple states, what quantum physicists call superposition.  Consider the famous thought experiment of Schrodinger’s cat, where a poor cat is simultaneously both alive and dead and only an outside observer can force her into one of these two states.  Now imagine it’s somehow possible for both states to continue; each outcome causing the universe to branch. To make it even more dramatic imagine a universe where every possible decision makes another branch, splitting with each measurement by an observer.

Wave equations in quantum physics capture both the wave(ness) and particle(ness) of a subatomic particle.  The size of the wavelength dictates the range of possibilities for the position of a particle. A subatomic particle can be anywhere along the wave front, but collapses to a single point when observed. The Many-Worlds interpretation considers a never collapsing (standing) wave, holding many branches, where each spike (areas of high probability) is perceived with 100% probability by some observer.

D. Mem(Brane) theory

This cosmology theorizes higher dimensions.  The theory proposes we live on a 3-dimensional membrane in a wider multidimensional space.  We share this space with many different universes where each can have very different physical laws, constants, and initial conditions.

Is life still possible in a universe with different laws of nature?  It might be fun to write about.

Can these different universes ever meet?  The math shows they do.  But for us let’s hope not, at least for a very long time, because when they do it’s a collision—a Big Bang.

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3 Responses to “S4F: What’s the Matter with Antimatter?”

  1. William Haloupek Says:
    March 8th, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    Interesting article!

    Stealth is easier than cloaking, and we already have the technology.

  2. David Siegel Bernstein Says:
    March 30th, 2012 at 7:41 am

    William you are absolutely correct. Invisibility (a descendant of Stealth) is not only easier to achieve, but a future topic. I thought I’d go over invisibility first to please those who enjoy Harry Potter, but want to write hard science fiction.

  3. donnagalanti Says:
    April 5th, 2012 at 5:39 am

    Fascinating post. We are so much empty space and mostly water. Amazing to think how we can be beings of intelligence and creativity.

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