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Here's Why We Might Live in a Multiverse | Scientific American

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Several branches of modern physics, including quantum theory and cosmology, suggest our universe may be just one of many BY SARAH SCOLES A computer illustration of multiple bubble universes as predicted by the eternal inflation theory. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library Humans live in a universe: that is a fact. Up for debate, though, is whether the universe lives in a sea of other universes—a multiverse. The idea of a multiverse is the subject of much science fiction—but it’s also a real possibility (or, rather, a set of many possibilities) that some scientists take seriously and investigate. Multiversal concepts pop up in several branches of modern physics. In quantum mechanics, for instance, a particle exists in a superposition of possible states all at once—until, that is, someone tries to make a measurement of it. At that point the possibilities collapse, and one physical state shows itself to the observer. The “many worlds” interpretation of quantum mechanics, though, posits that

March 6, 2024 6 min read Add Us On Google Add SciAm Here's Why We Might Live in a Multiverse Several branches of modern physics, including quantum theory and cosmology, suggest our universe may be just one of many By Sarah Scoles edited by Clara Moskowitz Shideh Ghandeharizadeh Humans live in a universe; that is a fact. Up for debate, though, is whether that universe lives in a sea of other universes- a multiverse . The idea of a multiverse is the subject of much science fiction-but it's also a real possibility (or rather a set of many possibilities) that some scientists take seriously and inv

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