Parallel worlds: scientists closer to proving their existence

By Dick Pelletier

      

    A growing number of cosmologists believe that we are but one of many universes and at least one of these other worlds lies close to ours, possibly only a millimeter away. We can't see this neighboring universe because it exists in a type of space different from the four dimensions of our everyday reality.

    As the CERN Large Hadron Collider moves into high gear this year, scientists are talking increasingly of a "new physics" on the horizon that many predict will help researchers resolve more of the unknowns about our universe. This new approach includes developing a better understanding of dark energy, a mysterious force that some believe, may indicate the existence of a 'sister' universe lurking nearby.

    Scientists have observed strange happenings such as the Andromeda galaxy, 2.2 million light-years away speeding towards the Milky Way at 200,000 mph, which can only be explained if gravity from an invisible universe is pulling the two galaxies together.

    Researchers at the mighty WMAP space telescope recently discovered a force 10,000 times larger than the Milky Way, which they believe offers powerful evidence that a parallel universe may be in the area.

    In another attempt to search for parallel worlds, NASA installed the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 at the ISS to record data that could prove the existence of other universes, some of which may even be made of anti-matter. Unraveling this cosmic mystery has attracted worldwide interest. The project drew support from Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Russia, and the U.S.

    MIT cosmologist Max Tegmark predicts that the 'multiverse' model, grounded in modern physics, will eventually be empirically testable, predictive and disprovable. This is not sci-fi, he says, its real science.

    Forward thinkers expect that one day, we will be able to communicate with, and even visit these parallel worlds through wormholes. Cal Tech physicist Sean Carroll believes it's not too far-fetched that in the decades ahead, scientists will construct a machine that allows inter-universe communications and travel.

    Consensus among many scientists has been that wormholes are so destructive that people would be torn to subatomic bits traveling through them. However, a recent paper by Utah University physicist Lior Burko raises the possibility that wormholes may not annihilate matter. This has convinced a few bold visionaries to forecast that one day in the not-too-distant future, "universe-hopping" will become reality.

    Oxford University's Dr. David Deutsch believes a copy of you may be reading this article on a planet in another universe identical to ours, except this copy of you has just won the lottery.

    Some physicists believe that you have many twins living in parallel universes. People with the same appearance, name and memories as you exist in these other worlds and some of them are making daily life choices different from yours.

    So what are the possibilities after this concept becomes proven? Imagine visiting another Earth where an alternate you is living a more exciting life than yours, and you could trade places if you both agreed.

    This begs the question, "What might happen if our parallel selves met; would we combine our gifts of different life experiences, or would we compete against one another?"

    Now think of a parallel world where time travels at different speeds. Time rushes through the centuries at amazing speeds in this world. Humanity has already become a Type III Kardashev civilization boasting space colonies throughout its galaxy, and enormous levels of energy harvested from billions of stars.

    Forward technologies have been developed in this Kardashev world, allowing visits to other universes and traveling backwards and forwards through time. Could a futuristic world like this ever become reality for us? Experts say this incredible future could be ours to claim in the millennia ahead, but our parallel world neighbors may already be enjoying this future in a universe where time dimension differs from ours.

    Finally, will travel to alternate universes happen? Experts believe that with resolve and good fortune, many parallel world adventures like these will become possible as we travel into this remarkable future.

This article appeared in various print publications and on-line blogs. Comments always welcome.