According to one popular interpretation of quantum mechanics, if you are experiencing a challenging life, there exists a universe where you are thriving. Meanwhile, in another universe, you might be a mighty king or queen who is unmatched in power and fame. This idea, known as the "Many-Worlds Interpretation," suggests that every decision and action lead to the creation of a new universe.
For example, when you come to a junction and decide to turn left, an entirely new universe is created where you turned right. In this view, billions of new universes are created in the blink of an eye, constantly branching out from every possible event or choice.
This raises an interesting question: When was our universe created? Was it 40 years ago when a young bachelor proposed to his girlfriend, and she rejected him, causing the creation of our universe where she joyfully accepted the ring, leading to their happy life together? Or was it just three years ago when a toddler fell ill and died in his mother's arms, causing the creation of our universe where he survived?
Given this perspective, can we really determine the age of our universe? Traditional physics suggests that our universe began about 13.8 billion years ago with the Big Bang, but quantum mechanics introduces the possibility of infinitely branching timelines. While we may be able to measure the age of our observable universe, the idea of multiple universes complicates the notion of a singular timeline or fixed creation point. Thus, determining the age of our universe in this context may ultimately be impossible.
Please comment.
Dear Stellan Gustafsson
I agree with your conclusion. But let us see what proponents of the theory "Many-Worlds Interpretation" would say.
The concept you're referring to, the Many-Worlds Interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics, is indeed fascinating and thought-provoking. It suggests that every possible outcome of a quantum event actually occurs, each in its own separate branch of reality. This interpretation opens up the idea of an infinite number of parallel universes, each branching off from the other due to different quantum events or decisions.
However, when it comes to determining the age of our universe, we need to consider the framework within which we're operating. The age of our universe, as commonly understood in physics, refers to the time since the Big Bang, which is estimated to be around 13.8 billion years. This estimation is based on observations such as the cosmic microwave background radiation and the rate of expansion of the universe.
While the MWI suggests the existence of countless branching timelines, each potentially with its own distinct history and outcomes, it doesn't necessarily negate the concept of a singular age for our universe within its own timeline. In each of these branching timelines, events unfold independently, creating unique histories, but they don't alter the age of the universe as we measure it within each timeline.
So, while the MWI introduces fascinating philosophical implications and challenges our understanding of reality, the age of our universe as measured by traditional physics remains a well-defined concept within the framework of our observable reality. The existence of multiple universes doesn't fundamentally change the age of our universe as we perceive it.
Dear Sandeep Jaiswal
In summary, the age of our universe is estimated at 13.78 billion years. While the existence of other universes and the Many-Worlds Interpretation are intriguing ideas, we lack conclusive evidence. The Big Bang theory remains the most robust explanation for our universe's origin and evolution.
As noted in the previous comment, the exact age is unknown. The reason for this is that even its current rate of expansion is unknown, and as we look deeper into the past (at more distant galaxies), we find (quite naturally, per Einstein's General Theory of Relativity) that the rate of its expansion used to be much faster than now, slowed for the first 7 or 8 billion years (because there was more mass than empty space), and has been gradually increasing ever since (since the amount of mass is constant but the amount of empty space is increasing). However, 13.8 plus or minus 0.2 billion years, as stated above, is almost certainly in the right ballpark.
As for the Many-Universe theory, Dirac's prediction of pair production due to quantum fluctuations in otherwise empty space-time makes the creation of new Universes essentially certain. However, each new Universe is completely separated from every other one, except at the specific point in space-time that created it, and that is always in the past, in whatever former Universe created it, so there is no way to move from one Universe to another except in science fiction. As both an astronomer and a writer, I actually wrote a short story based on the idea that you COULD move from one Universe to another, but that was science fiction, not real science, and every article about multiverses that suggest that you can go from one to another is, no matter how it is presented, also fiction, not science.
Dear Courtney Seligman and Sandeep Jaiswal
This question doesn't focus on the exact age of our universe after the big bang, but rather explores the concept of our universe's age in the context of the many-worlds hypothesis. Please refer to my comment under the main question.
Thank you for clarifying that there's no solid evidence supporting the creation of countless universes in every brief moment. Dirac's prediction related to the pair production of particles. The idea of extending this prediction to the continuous generation of endless universes needs further scientific explanation.
P.S. For pair production of virtual particles, please see the question:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Where_are_all_the_virtual_particles?
For a review of current genesis theories please see:
Preprint SCIENCE IN THE SHADOW OF METAPHYSICS Part 2 -The Issue of Existence
I see. You want to include the time prior to the formation of OUR Universe. In that case, I would guess that it is close to infinity.
Dear Cosmin Visan
I'm certain that when you cross a busy road, you check traffic on both sides before proceeding and rely on real observations rather than just your imagination.
See https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2023/03/12/is-the-multiverse-real-the-science-behind-everything-everywhere-all-at-once/ under 'Misconceptions about the Multiverse'. There is absolutely NO (NADA, NONE) scientific evidence to prove a multiverse. It is an offshoot of string theory which has been shown to be fun mathematics, but not science.
- Badges
- Science method
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Ecology