NationStates Jolt Archive

In a very interesting thought provoking documentary titled Parallel Universes, it seems that many noted physicists are now studying this theory that has as its basis the notion of Parallel Universes, multiple universes that are like and described as "membranes" existing in an 11th dimension, these membranes or separate universes having laws of physics different from our own.

Some go further to say that a collision of these two membranes resulted in the Big Bang. Even though the majority of these universes co-exist as they have different laws of physics therefore different frequencies of particles or something?

I am not sure of the theory if their actually "parallel" denoting, though they spoke as if you could exist in two (Not sure if that was just fanciful, or if somehow you would exist in two connoting some parallelness of beings?)

FAR from being fringe theory, this is actually an acceptable theory that is the result of many physicists who are now working out the formulas and such.

So that is the basic, and truthful review I got of the theory. If any one can fill in the blanks, feel free, I was just trying to understand it. That is basically what they were saying though, and it seems accepted by many physicists.

Theory's been around for a long while. I just hope someone invents a probability broach or other door into these alternate realities in my lifetime.

What's supernatural about this?

What's supernatural about this?

I just meant it would sound supernatural to those before the theory was invented, it sounds almost more supernatural than some supernatural thoughts.

I was trying to figure out though, could physics explain some supernatural phenomena for example? I wonder if beings could travel between these somehow, but doubtful we would perceive them in any way if they were of totally different particles. I know some fiction puts demons as coming from a different dimension, lol.

Well, I've heard worse explanations of the cause of the big bang.

You've got things backwards. Demons and spirits were invented to explain physical phenomena. We don't need physical theories to explain our explanations.

Well, I've heard worse explanations of the cause of the big bang.

Well this is not even an fringe theory, but one being widely accepted by many physicists.

bump for discussion

In a very interesting thought provoking documentary titled Parallel Universes, it seems that many noted physicists are now studying this theory that has as its basis the notion of Parallel Universes, multiple universes that are like and described as "membranes" existing in an 11th dimension, these membranes or separate universes having laws of physics different from our own.

Some go further to say that a collision of these two membranes resulted in the Big Bang. Even though the majority of these universes co-exist as they have different laws of physics therefore different frequencies of particles or something?

I am not sure of the theory if their actually "parallel" denoting, though they spoke as if you could exist in two (Not sure if that was just fanciful, or if somehow you would exist in two connoting some parallelness of beings?)

FAR from being fringe theory, this is actually an acceptable theory that is the result of many physicists who are now working out the formulas and such.

So that is the basic, and truthful review I got of the theory. If any one can fill in the blanks, feel free, I was just trying to understand it. That is basically what they were saying though, and it seems accepted by many physicists.
I'm not comfortable with these membranes colliding. If they only exist in a one dimensional structure (the 11th dimension), how can the move about bar forwards and backwards? They would only be able to collide with the membrane next to them, which I suppose is possible, but doesn't sound very likely. Otherwise, it sounds OK.

In a very interesting thought provoking documentary titled Parallel Universes, it seems that many noted physicists are now studying this theory that has as its basis the notion of Parallel Universes, multiple universes that are like and described as "membranes" existing in an 11th dimension, these membranes or separate universes having laws of physics different from our own.

I'm not sure that the idea of multiple parallel universes passes the giggle test. Wouldn't it introduce even more complexity? And isn't the huge complexity the biggest problem in the first place? Doesn't seem like a good idea to me.


FAR from being fringe theory, this is actually an acceptable theory that is the result of many physicists who are now working out the formulas and such.

Accepted by a few crazy physicists doesn't make it an acceptable theory, regardless of how much noise they are making. Let's face it, making noise is good for your career in a very competitive discipline.


So that is the basic, and truthful review I got of the theory. If any one can fill in the blanks, feel free, I was just trying to understand it. That is basically what they were saying though, and it seems accepted by many physicists.

You are not supposed to understand it, just to be impressed by it.

I'm not comfortable with these membranes colliding. If they only exist in a one dimensional structure (the 11th dimension), how can the move about bar forwards and backwards? They would only be able to collide with the membrane next to them, which I suppose is possible, but doesn't sound very likely. Otherwise, it sounds OK.

Heh thats the point, they don't. They exist in all dimensions, yet the 'Brane' in which our universe resides has only the 3 dimensions, ohhh unless you count time as a dimension.

In a very interesting thought provoking documentary titled Parallel Universes, it seems that many noted physicists are now studying this theory that has as its basis the notion of Parallel Universes, multiple universes that are like and described as "membranes" existing in an 11th dimension, these membranes or separate universes having laws of physics different from our own.

Some go further to say that a collision of these two membranes resulted in the Big Bang. Even though the majority of these universes co-exist as they have different laws of physics therefore different frequencies of particles or something?

I am not sure of the theory if their actually "parallel" denoting, though they spoke as if you could exist in two (Not sure if that was just fanciful, or if somehow you would exist in two connoting some parallelness of beings?)

FAR from being fringe theory, this is actually an acceptable theory that is the result of many physicists who are now working out the formulas and such.

So that is the basic, and truthful review I got of the theory. If any one can fill in the blanks, feel free, I was just trying to understand it. That is basically what they were saying though, and it seems accepted by many physicists.

Theories have been around for a while. Related to this is the theory that we are simply a 4 dimensional universe resting within a multidimensional membrane, through which, should a particle related to gravity exist, gravity particles can flow. This would result in a reduction of gravity particle density which would account for the significantly weaker strength of gravity in our universe compared to the other forces, among other things.

There's also the theory that there are two (or I suppose at least two) 4d universes with a 2 dimensional membrane between them through which only certain particles can pass through.

The problem with all of these theories is that they're largely untestable with our current level of technology, much like String Theory, for the most part. So while they garner "ooohs" and "aaahs" from the general public, there's a whole fuckload of other things that research funding can go to that actually have useful applications.

The problem with all of these theories is that they're largely untestable with our current level of technology, much like String Theory, for the most part. So while they garner "ooohs" and "aaahs" from the general public, there's a whole fuckload of other things that research funding can go to that actually have useful applications.

Largely untestable...until the LHC comes online. Maybe. I hope. Cause it'd be awesome beyond description to get some sort of experimental confirmation for aspects of string theory (at least the extra dimensions).

I thought that was the 10th dimension.