Infinite Universe Theory?

[Altair_Ibn-La'Ahad]

So my friend and I were playing Grand Theft Auto IV one evening when one of us brought up an interesting theory. The theory was that there is an infinite number of possibilities for everything that has been done and not done. We also came to the conclusion that the infinite number of anything that is in space somewhere.
Does anyone agree with us?

 

[TheAIOverlord]

In another universe this thread is full of comments.

 

[shrekfan246]

Yeah [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse], that's been discussed pretty extensively in scientific circles [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Many-worlds_interpretation].

Unfortunately I don't really know enough about quantum mechanics or physics to really weigh in on this with any sort of authority.

 

[Heronblade]

Its not exactly a new concept and it actually is supported by certain aspects of quantum physics.

Unfortunately, it is thus far unprovable either way.

By the by, "somewhere in space" would not be the correct location to search for these infinite possibilities.

If the many worlds interpretation is correct, you instead need to be looking for a means to... sidestep the universe we exist in entirely. If it could be done at all, the process would be more like switching radio stations than going on a journey. The new station was there all the time, but if you didn't know how to "look" for it, it might as well not exist.

 

[McMullen]

Many fictional works use this idea. In Myst, the ages are not created by the descriptive books, but are preexisting worlds in a pool of all possible worlds, and when you write a descriptive book the world most closely matching what you describe becomes accessible.

Anathem is a novel that is very demanding on the reader at first, but very rewarding in the latter two thirds. The end of the novel gets heavily into the implications of this concept and what it would mean to be able to shift between similar but slightly different worlds. This book is for nerds only. Specifically, nerds who don't mind a hefty dose of quantum mechanics, geometric proofs, and rocket science in their fiction. It is so much better than that makes it sound.

 

[gritch]

-snip-

This has definitely been thought of before. I have just a rudimentary understanding of quantum mechanics but by my understanding the thought process sort of went like this. In quantum mechanics fundamentally many of the observed particles/phenomena seem to be governed by probabilities and in fact the act of observing a phenomena will actually effect the outcome (see Double Slit experiment). This isn't really what we would expect to observe on a fundamental level - Einstein is famously quoted as "God doesn't play dice with the universe." in opposition to this fundamental probabilistic outlook.

Several interpretations were proposed by scientist. The most notable would be exactly what you have described. Basically the universe diverges every time an observation is made. If I'm watching a particle that has an equal probability of going either left or right then in universe A it goes left and in universe B it goes right. Being a part of either universe A or B I would see the particle as having gone either left or right with 100% certainty. We see the world as a series of definite events because we are currently existing in a single instance of a universe but in reality many different amounts have occurred and will continue to occur.

 

[Terminate421]

I'd certainly find it possible. Hell, if possible. I'd find the Pokemon universe. It'd be awesome.

 

[slevin8989]

yeah seems like you played too much bioshock but here's a video that kinda explained the various theory's on multiple universes or parallel universes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywn2Lz5zmYg

 

[slevin8989]

yeah seems like you played too much bioshock but here's a video that kinda explained the various theory's on multiple universes or parallel universes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywn2Lz5zmYg

 

[Elemental]

Many fictional works use this idea. In Myst, the ages are not created by the descriptive books, but are preexisting worlds in a pool of all possible worlds, and when you write a descriptive book the world most closely matching what you describe becomes accessible.

Anathem is a novel that is very demanding on the reader at first, but very rewarding in the latter two thirds. The end of the novel gets heavily into the implications of this concept and what it would mean to be able to shift between similar but slightly different worlds. This book is for nerds only. Specifically, nerds who don't mind a hefty dose of quantum mechanics, geometric proofs, and rocket science in their fiction. It is so much better than that makes it sound.

Now I really want to get Anathem but i'm scared I won't understand shit