• Question: is there another parallel universe?

    Asked by magnet360 to Ed, Sam on 24 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by awesomefishysayrawrr, miaaconn.
    • Photo: Sam Tazzyman

      Sam Tazzyman answered on 24 Jun 2011:

      Ooooh – I’m not sure. I think some interpretations of quantum theory in physics suggest that there are infinite other parallel universes. This comes about because at the fundamental level in quantum mechanics there are random events. A bit like throwing a dice. According to the “many worlds” interpretation, it’s a bit like when you throw a dice there is one universe where you get a 1, one where you get a 2, one where you get a 3, and so on, all of which branch off from each other and have no interaction with one another.

      Of course it’s difficult (perhaps impossible) to objectively test this theory, and it’s difficult to see whether it would make any difference to our world. But it’s quite cool to think about.

    • Photo: Ed Morrison

      Ed Morrison answered on 24 Jun 2011:

      Like Sam says, many physicists would say that there are parallel universes. In fact, there may be an infinite number of them. I don’t think there any way to access them though. Have you read the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman? He uses the parallel universe idea in them. They’re really good too.

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