• Question: do you think there are any parrellel universes ?

    Asked by cheeseballs to Adam, Catherine, Karen, Leila, Nazim on 14 Mar 2012. This question was also asked by emmam.
    • Photo: Karen Masters

      Karen Masters answered on 13 Mar 2012:

      Well now this is an interesting question…. actually there are scientists seriously thinking about parallel universes – or what they might call “multiverses”. One of the big questions in cosmology isn’t just what is the universe like, but why is the universe the way it is…..? We wonder if there’s a reason that the contents are the way they are, or if it’s just luck. And then if it’s just luck, are there lots of other universes with slightly different contents – or slightly different fundamental constants (ie. a different speed of light, or stronger gravity)?

      I always struggle with this a bit, because I’m not sure it’s really science. I’m not sure how you test if there are multiverses, and I wonder if it’s just a cop out of trying to understand a real reason why our universe is the way it is.

      But it is sort of a fun thing to wonder about – are there infinite versions of me sitting here answering this question just ever so slightly differently. I wonder in which universes you guys will vote for me! 😉

    • Photo: Adam Stevens

      Adam Stevens answered on 14 Mar 2012:

      There’s different theories about parallel universes. There may be a new one created every time someone makes a decision (which is kinda quantum physics based) or there may just be extra universes that were made at the same time as us (which is more cosmological I guess).

      Personally I think it’s always been proved that humans and the Earth have no special place – first we found out that the Earth isn’t the centre of the solar system, then we found out that the sun isn’t the centre of the galaxy then we found out the galaxy isn’t the centre of the universe! So it would be a bit self centred to think we were the only universe.

    • Photo: Leila Battison

      Leila Battison answered on 19 Mar 2012:

      I think all the different theories for how you get a parallel universe – one made for every decision, or formed by rapid growth of little pockets of our universe – are all equally fascinating, and equally untestable with the physics and technology we have today.

      Maybe scientists of the far future will be able to work out out, but for now we can only make theories.

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