Parallel Universes
August 7th 2008 08:43
The notion of parallel universes was in the realms of science fiction although based on quantum theory.
Scientists now believe there may really be a parallel universe in fact; there may be an infinite number of parallel universes. Other universes contain space, time and strange forms of exotic matter. Some of them may even contain you and I.
This stuff is mind boggling and a little weird to say the least, I am not going into the mechanics of quantum theory, but it is a fascinating subject from a scientific and philosophical standpoint.
Perhaps one of the theories that I remember most is the 'Schrodinger's cat' scenario so radical and weird that it stuck in my mind. Essentially it goes a little like this. A cat is placed in a sealed jar with a Geiger-counter and a bit of radioactive waste and a vile of sulfuric acid and a hammer. When the Geiger-counter detects a decaying atom it triggers the hammer which breaks the acid vile the cat is dead. Instead of the cat being both dead and alive, it is both dead and alive, albeit in 2 parallel universes.
The paradox lies in the clever coupling of quantum and classical domains. Before the observer opens the box, the cat's fate is coupled to the wave function of the atom, which is itself in a superposition of decayed and undecayed states. Thus, said Schroedinger, the cat must itself be in a superposition of dead and alive states before the observer opens the box, ``observes'' the cat, and ``collapses'' its wave function.
We know that superposition is a scientific fact and actually occurs at the subatomic level, because there are observable effects of interference, in which a single particle is demonstrated to be in multiple locations simultaneously.
The principle of superposition claims that while we do not know what the state of any object is, it is actually in all possible states simultaneously, as long as we don't” look in the box”.
Schrödinger himself is rumored to have said, later in life, that he wished he had never used the cat analogy.
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Comment by The wonderful Peter Yang
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Hmm...maybe in one of them, I am the a Great Emperor or a great General or a great Rock Star...
Hmm...well, too bad that isn't me, but another me.
But still
It's fun to think about it and I surely would like to meet that guy.
Cheers
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I am glad it was not me.
Well done.
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
No wonder my cat gives me funny looks.....:0)
Cheers
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
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Now you know that cats come from that other place anyway ... fluffy embassadors of quantum physics itself...(not to mention paradox).. a good name for a cat, dont you think?.
Meanwhile, I think the rabbit hole goes deeper ... in that we are also living past lives and future ones at the same time too... the parallels are not only linear, but also spatial.
This is a very exciting branch of understanding, isnt it?
very enjoyable as long as its kept simple, and I enjoyed your take on it , so far.
Lilla ...
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
There are some paradoxes that science cannot fully explain.
Although we do exist in multiple states at least from a scientific standpoint.
Perhaps this can account for episodes of Dajavou and past lives.
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
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Perhaps the best non-scientific way I have heard this subject borached is within Eastern Teachings drawn from the sacred Sankrit texts on the subject of Karma, (as with many other versus on the non-state of mind) ... etc... Karma meaning - of course - ACTION.
There are so many references to this subject of all things being in a constant state of flux and change...for example in the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying (pp116) :
How is it that we come to be alive as human beings? All beings who have similar karma will have a common vision of the world around them, and this set of perceptions they share is called 'a karmic vision.' That close correspondence between our karma and the kind of realm in which we find ourselves also explains how different forms arise: You and I, for example, are human beings because of the basic common karma that we share.
Yet within the human realm, all of us have our own individual karma.
It goes on and on for a bit and then begins to explore different realities, moving onto :
Lets never forget What we see is what our karmic vision allows us to see, and no more.
A fascinating study from all angles...