the multiverse this is a theory i’ve taken a great interest in over the past few months, so i thought i’d share it with those who may be similarly interested in reading about it. it truly is some mind-bending stuff, so if your brain doesn’t like getting raped by knowledge, you may want to turn back now… there are multiple schools of thought when it comes to this theory, but the two most popular are the ultimate ensemble and the many worlds interpretation. the ultimate ensemble version (illustrated above) basically means that there are a near infinite number of alternate universes being “born” an infinite number of times, meaning our own universe is likely to be the offspring of a parent universe and vice versa. our very own universe could be the parent of countless others. in some of these universes, the cosmological constant (which enables the expanding or contracting of the universe) may be too great, which would cause the universe to expand indefinitely and freeze before any elements can form. in others it is too weak and the universe will collapse on itself almost immediately. in others- like our own- the cosmological constant is just positive enough to allow expansion, but still have elements form. we’re one of the lucky ones… the many worlds interpretation arises from quantum theory and states any observable prediction exists in all states in a separate universe. the easiest example would be the roll of a die. once the die leaves your hand, it creates multiple universes where every possible outcome happens. for instance, the simple act of me typing this post leads to the creation of countless universes. one where i didn’t just make the typo that i had to correct. one where i don’t finish this post. one where i choose not to even do it. one where i don’t even get out of bed this morning. when one thinks of such possibilities, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that life is meaningless if every outcome exists in an infinite number of universes, separate from our own. i mean, what does it matter if i drive my scooter right off the road and into oncoming traffic? in this universe, i laugh to myself and continue on my merry way. in others, i do it. i swerve into traffic and make it out without a scratch. i get hit by a car, but don’t sustain any serious injury. i break an arm. i break both arms. i break my neck.  i choose not to think this way, though. i like to think it makes every one of us special. it may sound cheesy, but we all influence the way our universe behaves in unimaginable ways. we are essentially gods, each controlling the fate of our world and countless others. in this universe, i hit “create post.”

the multiverse

this is a theory i’ve taken a great interest in over the past few months, so i thought i’d share it with those who may be similarly interested in reading about it. it truly is some mind-bending stuff, so if your brain doesn’t like getting raped by knowledge, you may want to turn back now…

there are multiple schools of thought when it comes to this theory, but the two most popular are the ultimate ensemble and the many worlds interpretation. the ultimate ensemble version (illustrated above) basically means that there are a near infinite number of alternate universes being “born” an infinite number of times, meaning our own universe is likely to be the offspring of a parent universe and vice versa. our very own universe could be the parent of countless others. in some of these universes, the cosmological constant (which enables the expanding or contracting of the universe) may be too great, which would cause the universe to expand indefinitely and freeze before any elements can form. in others it is too weak and the universe will collapse on itself almost immediately. in others- like our own- the cosmological constant is just positive enough to allow expansion, but still have elements form. we’re one of the lucky ones…

the many worlds interpretation arises from quantum theory and states any observable prediction exists in all states in a separate universe. the easiest example would be the roll of a die. once the die leaves your hand, it creates multiple universes where every possible outcome happens. for instance, the simple act of me typing this post leads to the creation of countless universes. one where i didn’t just make the typo that i had to correct. one where i don’t finish this post. one where i choose not to even do it. one where i don’t even get out of bed this morning.

when one thinks of such possibilities, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that life is meaningless if every outcome exists in an infinite number of universes, separate from our own. i mean, what does it matter if i drive my scooter right off the road and into oncoming traffic? in this universe, i laugh to myself and continue on my merry way. in others, i do it. i swerve into traffic and make it out without a scratch. i get hit by a car, but don’t sustain any serious injury. i break an arm. i break both arms. i break my neck. 

i choose not to think this way, though. i like to think it makes every one of us special. it may sound cheesy, but we all influence the way our universe behaves in unimaginable ways. we are essentially gods, each controlling the fate of our world and countless others. in this universe, i hit “create post.”