View source for Multiverse

{{Cosmology}}
{{String theory}}{{Redirect|Megaverse}}
A '''multiverse''' is the [[theory]] of a [[conjecture]]d [[set]] of multiple possible [[universe]]s, including ours, which make up [[reality]]. These universes are sometimes called '''[[parallel universe]]s'''. A number of different versions have been considered.

The word "multiverse" was created in 1895 by psychologist [[William James]] as a philosophical concept.<ref>James, William 1895. ''The Will to Believe'', and earlier in 1895, as cited in [[OED]]'s new 2003 entry for "multiverse": 1895 W. JAMES in ''International Journal of Ethics'' '''6''' p10. "Visible nature is all plasticity and indifference, a multiverse, as one might call it, and not a universe".</ref>
== The cosmological multiverse ==
The cosmological multiverse tries to explain why the universe we can see sometimes called <nowiki>''our universe''</nowiki> is one that life can exist in. Even small changes to the way physics works would make life impossible. In a multiverse a large number of universes are randomly created and some happen to favour life emerging there. Many inhospitable universes would also have been created, but there would be no life there to observe their existence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140318-multiverse-inflation-big-bang-science-space/|title=Big Bang Discovery Opens Doors to the "Multiverse"|last=Vergano|first=Dan|date=2014-03-19|work=National Geographic|access-date=2018-09-18}}</ref>
== The quantum multiverse ==
The quantum multiverse is another version in which our universe splits into alternative futures with every quantum event. This is called [[Many-worlds interpretation]] of [[quantum mechanics]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hugh-everett-biography/|title=The Many Worlds of Hugh Everett|last=Byrne|first=Peter|date=October 21, 2008|work=Scientific American|access-date=2018-09-18|language=en}}</ref>

== Multiverse Media ==
<gallery widths='160px' heights='100%' mode='traditional' caption=''>
File:Schroedingers cat film.svg|[[Schrödinger's cat]] in the many-worlds interpretation, where a branching of the universe occurs through a superposition of two quantum mechanical states

File:Brane theory.ogg|Animation showing the multiple brane universes in the bulk

File:Cosmos-animation Friedmann-closed.gif|Cosmos animation of a cyclic universe

File:Universe Antiuniverse model.png|Concept of a twin universe, with the [[Cosmogony|beginning of time]] in the middle
</gallery>
== Related pages ==
*[[Quantum immortality]]
== Further reading ==
*{{cite web|url=https://mindmatters.ai/2022/02/astrophysicists-lock-horns-over-whether-multiverse-must-exist/|title=Astrophysicists lock horns over weather the multiverse exists|date=27 February 2022|publisher=Mind Matters News}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/cross-check/multiverse-theories-are-bad-for-science/|title=Multiverse theories are bad for science|work=John Horgan|publisher=Scientific American}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/23024945/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-multiverse-explained-quantum-physicist|title=Everything Everywhere All at Once, explained by a quantum physicist|work=Alex Abad-Sentos|date=15 April 2022 |publisher=Vox}}
*{{cite web|url=https://mindmatters.ai/2020/06/is-big-bang-theorys-nerd-right-re-the-multiverse/|title=Is the Big Bang Theory's Sheldon Right Re: The Multiverse. Sheldon Cooper insists that in no universe would he dance with Penny|work=Robert J. Marks|date=4 June 2020 |publisher=Mind Matters News}}
*{{cite web|url=https://www.quantamagazine.org/why-this-universe-new-calculation-suggests-our-cosmos-is-typical-20221117/|title=Why This Universe? A New Calculation Suggests Our Cosmos Is Typical|publisher=QuantaMagazine}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}


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[[Category:Cosmology]]
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[[Category:Astrophysics]]
[[Category:Universe]]