Beyond the Beyond: Peeking Into Parallel Universes
By Parul Pahurkar
Cosmofluencer (Season 04)
Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the edge of our Universe? There may be a possibility of parallel universes in which scientists are still brainstorming. It’s intriguing to imagine that in one universe, you are a virtuous individual, while in another, you embody the opposite. But is this real or just a hypothesis?
What is a Multiverse?
It is a term that is used to describe the idea that there are more observable universes beside our own, in which there can be an infinite number of possibilities. It could be that our cosmos is just one member of a much grander, much larger multitude of universes: a multiverse. This idea has become popular in sci-fi, especially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In Loki, for example, the character explores different timelines and alternate realities, showing how the multiverse could be full of different versions of ourselves and limitless possibilities.
Some of The Popular Multiverse Theories
There are some areas of science that Multiverse Theories develop from, including these:
- Eternal Inflation: This suggests that after the Big Bang, space expanded at different speeds everywhere of space and, therefore, formed isolated “bubble universes”.
- Many Worlds Interpretation (Quantum Mechanics): Every possible outcome of a quantum event occurs in some parallel universe.
- String Theory and Extra Dimensions: Proposes the existence of numerous universes differing in their configuration and physical properties. The theory further extends the fundamental premise that the smallest building blocks of the universe were not point-like particles as in particle physics, but rather tiny, oscillating strings of energy; the varied vibrational modes can account for the vast diversity of particles and forces around us.
These are some of the theories that can possibly predict infinite universes. But they have not been proven yet.
Is There Any Direct Evidence Suggesting Multiverses Exist?
Although certain aspects of our universe appear to imply the possibility of a multiverse, there is no direct observational evidence to confirm its existence. To date, the support for the multiverse concept is entirely theoretical and, in some instances, even philosophical in nature.
Scientists debate whether the multiverse is even an empirically testable theory, since by definition such a multiverse is independent of the universe we are in and inaccessible. But perhaps we just haven’t figured out the right test.
Life In the Multiverse
Perhaps the strangest of the consequences of the multiverse, though, are the doppelgängers. If there actually is an infinity of universes but a finite number of ways to arrange particles in any given universe, then patterns are bound to repeat eventually. That would mean that at some incredible but finite distance, there’d be an exact copy of you reading an exact copy of this article.
According to the Institute of Physics in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, because there would be an infinite number of universes, there would be an infinite number of those exact scenarios all happening at the same time. Sounds incredible, right?
Conclusion
Thus, while the universe may seem to have features that could conceivably hint at a multiverse, the evidence put forth is mainly of theoretical basis. Cosmic inflation models, quantum mechanics, and string theory models all do support a basis for which there may be several universes. Still, without direct observation and experiment verification, the multiverse may well be an excitingly speculative idea. Whether future developments in technology and knowledge will one day be able to provide evidence of the multiverse is unclear, but certainly, it is a stimulating field of investigation at the boundary of science and philosophy today.
References
- Multiverses | Britannica
- What is Multiverse Theory? | LiveScience
- Multiverse | Wikipedia
- What is the Multiverse? And is there any evidence it really exists? | National Geographic