Comments on: My so-called parallel lives http://www.marthaburtis.net/wrapping/2006/03/03/my-so-called-parallel-lives/ tales of swimming upstream Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:17:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Noel http://www.marthaburtis.net/wrapping/2006/03/03/my-so-called-parallel-lives/#comment-1027 Noel Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:34:42 +0000 http://www.marthaburtis.net/wrapping/2006/03/03/my-so-called-parallel-lives/#comment-1027 This is one of my favorite subjects. Just to make your brain hurt worse, I've read about subtle (and not-so-subtle) variants of the "multiple universes" hypothesis. A lot of physics theory arises from an attempt to unify special and general relativity and quantum mechanics, which, at small sizes, don't play very well together. One such idea is that there is only one physical universe, but with many different mathematical descriptions, each arising from a division of the universe into observer and observed. This is "relative," in the semantic sense, and does away with the idea of unique, separate universes that coexist physically all at the same time. And then there's string theory. And M-theory. And I have half a mind to come up with a theory myself, call it a ridiculous name, whip up some nonsensical linear algebra and eigenkets, slap my name on it and challenge anyone to prove me wrong. Welcome to poop-theory! :) This is one of my favorite subjects. Just to make your brain hurt worse, I’ve read about subtle (and not-so-subtle) variants of the “multiple universes” hypothesis. A lot of physics theory arises from an attempt to unify special and general relativity and quantum mechanics, which, at small sizes, don’t play very well together.

One such idea is that there is only one physical universe, but with many different mathematical descriptions, each arising from a division of the universe into observer and observed. This is “relative,” in the semantic sense, and does away with the idea of unique, separate universes that coexist physically all at the same time.

And then there’s string theory. And M-theory. And I have half a mind to come up with a theory myself, call it a ridiculous name, whip up some nonsensical linear algebra and eigenkets, slap my name on it and challenge anyone to prove me wrong.

Welcome to poop-theory!

:)

]]> By: PatrickGMJ http://www.marthaburtis.net/wrapping/2006/03/03/my-so-called-parallel-lives/#comment-251 PatrickGMJ Thu, 09 Mar 2006 14:02:05 +0000 http://www.marthaburtis.net/wrapping/2006/03/03/my-so-called-parallel-lives/#comment-251 Meow! Not-Meow! Ahh...takes me back to my days in another life (in this universe) as a physics major. One of the tweaks is the problem that, if multiple universes exist, they are (probably) completely unknowable. Which will lead some to say, "Piffle, if there's no knowability there, best not to think about it." Of course, that same problem is what makes it so rich for speculation. Old saying about the similar problem of light being a particle and a wave: Light is a particle on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; a particle on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; and physicsts pray for guidance on Sunday. Meow! Not-Meow!

Ahh…takes me back to my days in another life (in this universe) as a physics major. One of the tweaks is the problem that, if multiple universes exist, they are (probably) completely unknowable. Which will lead some to say, “Piffle, if there’s no knowability there, best not to think about it.” Of course, that same problem is what makes it so rich for speculation.

Old saying about the similar problem of light being a particle and a wave: Light is a particle on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; a particle on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; and physicsts pray for guidance on Sunday.

]]> By: Gardner http://www.marthaburtis.net/wrapping/2006/03/03/my-so-called-parallel-lives/#comment-248 Gardner Fri, 03 Mar 2006 03:38:16 +0000 http://www.marthaburtis.net/wrapping/2006/03/03/my-so-called-parallel-lives/#comment-248 Welcome to the world of quantum entanglement and Schroedinger's cat. Pity the poor cat, too! Welcome to the world of quantum entanglement and Schroedinger’s cat. Pity the poor cat, too!

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