Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jane Bovary · 09-01-2002, 06:33 PM

Forgive me scientists, for my ignorance in the scientific field is astounding. But I saw a documentary recently which talked about an 11th dimension which is apparently full of parallel universes. I found this truly amazing.

According to this theory, the big bang was caused by some of these universes colliding, an event which probably happens all the time. Some scientists are actually working on creating a big bang in the laboratory, causing another universe to come into being, one which would expand just like ours. They say this universe would not encroach on our space but would quickly move into another dimension.

This is all so mindboggling and fascinating...does anyone know more about it?

Starboy · 09-01-2002, 06:41 PM

Was this on the Fox network? Where did you see this?

Jane Bovary · 09-01-2002, 06:59 PM

I know it sounds crazy...like science fiction. That's why I covered myself with the "ignorance of science" bit...I wouldn't know if it's a credible theory or not. Ironically I saw it on a religious program...albeit a very respectable and highly regarded one. Here's a link...

<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s664305.htm" target="_blank">Parallel Universes</a>

According to the program, these are cutting edge physicists and the theory is very new. I don't know, is it for real? That's what I'm asking

[ September 01, 2002: Message edited by: Jane Bovary ]

lpetrich · 09-01-2002, 07:20 PM

I'm rather familiar with modern physics, so I can offer some help. What was discussed there was some of the cutting edge in particle-physics/cosmological speculations.

I'm not sure how seriously one can take some of these; I'm waiting until their advocates come out with predictions of the elementary-particle spectrum :-)

echidna · 09-01-2002, 07:24 PM

Hi Jane, M Theory�s definitely a popular topic as a possible successor to Superstring Theory. No, not rubbish or sci-fi at all.

From a relatively easy-to-read piece, <a href="http://www.mkaku.org/mtheory.html," target="_blank">http://www.mkaku.org/mtheory.html,</a> I particularly liked the anecdote (true or not ?) �

Quote:

Other giants of 20th century physics, like Werner Heisenberg and Wolfgang Pauli, also joined in the hunt. But all the easy ideas were tried and shown to be wrong. When Niels Bohr once heard a lecture by Pauli explaining his version of the unified field theory, Bohr stood up and said, "We in the back are all agreed that your theory is crazy. But what divides us is whether your theory is crazy enough!"

I�m not sure how clear the colliding universe theory is to be automatically deduced from M-Theory, but I remember reading that possibility late last year. Origins of the universe are a bit too speculative for my liking. Every man & his dog seems to come up with one, and the beauty is that chances are, you�ve got bugger-all likelihood of disproving any of them.

Looks like I have more remedial study to do.

Beware, only dweebs find this science-stuff fascinating !!

Toto · 09-01-2002, 07:27 PM

<a href="http://www.mkaku.org/mtheory.html" target="_blank">M-theory, the Mother of all Strings</a>.

You can put "M theory" and "string theory" into Google, and find a lot of references.

Jane Bovary · 09-01-2002, 07:30 PM

Thanks Guys...I'll try not to get too excited then.

But it's interesting to speculate. Imagine if we actually did start creating universes in the basement? We really would be "Playing God" then eh? Who knows, perhaps our own universe is really the result of some kid with a chemistry set in a more advanced universe...wow

Quote:

ALAN GUTH: I in fact have worked with several other people for some period of time on the question of whether or not it's in principle possible to create a new universe in the laboratory. Whether or not it really works we don't know for sure. It looks like it probably would work. It's actually safe to create a universe in your basement. It would not displace the universe around it even though it would grow tremendously. It would actually create its own space as it grows and in fact in a very short fraction of a second it would splice itself off completely from our Universe and evolve as an isolated closed universe growing to cosmic proportions without displacing any of the territory that we currently lay claim to.

[ September 01, 2002: Message edited by: Jane Bovary ]

echidna · 09-01-2002, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jane Bovary:
I know it sounds crazy...like science fiction. That's why I covered myself with the "ignorance of science" bit...I wouldn't know if it's a credible theory or not. Ironically I saw it on a religious program...albeit a very respectable and highly regarded one. Here's a link...

<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s664305.htm" target="_blank">Parallel Universes</a>

According to the program, these are cutting edge physicists and the theory is very new. I don't know, is it for real? That's what I'm asking

Quote:

Everything in this documentary sounds impossible and insane � yet it�s all true. Scientists now believe there may really be a parallel universe � in fact, there may be several parallel universes. These other universes contain space, time and exotic matter. The latest theory is that two of these parallel universes floating through space suddenly collided � and created our universe.

I object a little to this media-imposed sensationalisation of science.

Let�s rephrase :

Quote:

Everything in this documentary sounds impossible and insane � yet it�s all true. Some Scientists now believe there may really be a parallel universe � in fact, there may be several parallel universes. These other universes contain space, time and exotic matter. The latest theory is that two of these parallel universes floating through space suddenly collided � and created our universe.

Interesting though.

echidna · 09-01-2002, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jane Bovary:
But it's interesting to speculate. Imagine if we actually did start creating universes in the basement? We really would be "Playing God" then eh? Who knows, perhaps our own universe is really the result of some kid with a chemistry set in a more advanced universe...wow

And the Creator is Lisa Simpson (old episode).

Infinity Lover · 09-05-2002, 12:48 PM

While we're high on spacetime, snorting uncut relativity, I suggest we chase it with a big bang on the rocks, and raise our glasses, in every possible paralel universe, for M-theory.

I sincerely hope I may be excused (not crusified) for finding this all weird beyond weird. In the meantime I'm just going to sit back and let the big brains sort it out.

And hope nobody ends up with egg on their faces, considering a lot of time and effort is obviously being invested in this.

Marcel.

09-01-2002, 06:33 PM	#1
Jane Bovary Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: The Fatal Shore Posts: 900	M Theory Forgive me scientists, for my ignorance in the scientific field is astounding. But I saw a documentary recently which talked about an 11th dimension which is apparently full of parallel universes. I found this truly amazing. According to this theory, the big bang was caused by some of these universes colliding, an event which probably happens all the time. Some scientists are actually working on creating a big bang in the laboratory, causing another universe to come into being, one which would expand just like ours. They say this universe would not encroach on our space but would quickly move into another dimension. This is all so mindboggling and fascinating...does anyone know more about it?

09-01-2002, 06:59 PM	#3
Jane Bovary Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: The Fatal Shore Posts: 900	I know it sounds crazy...like science fiction. That's why I covered myself with the "ignorance of science" bit...I wouldn't know if it's a credible theory or not. Ironically I saw it on a religious program...albeit a very respectable and highly regarded one. Here's a link... <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s664305.htm" target="_blank">Parallel Universes</a> According to the program, these are cutting edge physicists and the theory is very new. I don't know, is it for real? That's what I'm asking [ September 01, 2002: Message edited by: Jane Bovary ]</p>

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09-01-2002, 06:41 PM	#2
Starboy Banned Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tallahassee, FL Reality Adventurer Posts: 5,276	Was this on the Fox network? Where did you see this?

09-01-2002, 07:20 PM	#4
lpetrich Contributor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lebanon, OR, USA Posts: 16,829	I'm rather familiar with modern physics, so I can offer some help. What was discussed there was some of the cutting edge in particle-physics/cosmological speculations. I'm not sure how seriously one can take some of these; I'm waiting until their advocates come out with predictions of the elementary-particle spectrum :-)

09-01-2002, 07:27 PM	#6
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	<a href="http://www.mkaku.org/mtheory.html" target="_blank">M-theory, the Mother of all Strings</a>. You can put "M theory" and "string theory" into Google, and find a lot of references.

09-05-2002, 12:48 PM	#10
Infinity Lover Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,047	While we're high on spacetime, snorting uncut relativity, I suggest we chase it with a big bang on the rocks, and raise our glasses, in every possible paralel universe, for M-theory. I sincerely hope I may be excused (not crusified) for finding this all weird beyond weird. In the meantime I'm just going to sit back and let the big brains sort it out. And hope nobody ends up with egg on their faces, considering a lot of time and effort is obviously being invested in this. Marcel.

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