Note: this program was broadcast on WGBH‘s sister stations WCAI & WNAN, on Sept. 9, 2007, and picked up by KPVL, a Pacifica station, on July 2, 2013!
Want to know how the world is going to end? Just ask Russian cosmologist Alex Vilenkin. If it’s our own universe you’re talking about, well, it’s called the big crunch, and it’s going to be hot hot hot! But if it’s the multiverse, that infinitely expanding, infinitely varied and infinitely populated sea of universes, well, guess what — there is no end. Isn’t that reassuring??
Vilenkin is Professor of Physics and Director of the Institute of Cosmology at Tufts University, and also the author of a new book, called Many Worlds in One: The Search for Other Universes. He’s also a former zookeeper. And – lest I forget – he was blacklisted by the KGB…
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Sir i am a student who just passed 12th class now
Sir i am very intrested in multivers theory ,because i have experienced some things that i remind that it was already happed to me in my dreams….yes in dreams actually .So sir, i think that when we sleep and visualising dreams ….,we are not visualising actually, somehow my mind connects with other entity of me in some multiverse.I dont now that it is right or wrong so please think about it an reply me with your views about this fact .And if you are satisfied my theory then please reply soon because i have experienced more of that
Dear Dr. Vilenkin, the multiple universes are causally connected through a shared vector potential with multiple starting times, that gives each version universe a uniqueness of its own–like a different notion of time. Then if this is so, the past and the future can be visited, because you are multiply connected. Space time is traversed by magnetic force therefore a tension exists and every change in that tension produces an electromotive force this is universal vector potential E equal to -A dot. 🙂
Hi, here is some food for thought. Not to have any confrontation or anything, rather to share some of the things from the Qur’an if someone is interested to go for further research. As Alex Vilenkin said that the theologists were not in favor of his finding, Qur’an says something that are very similar and compatible with his findings. First of all, Muslims believe that Qur’an is the original word of god. It’s been unchanged for 1400 years, ever since it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. By the way, they have evidence for it.
First thing first, Qur’an says that god created everything out of nothing. “Creator of the heavens and the earth from nothingness, He has only to say when He wills a thing, “Be,” and
it is.” Chapter 2-The Cow, Verse 117.
Then Qur’an talks about big bang. “Do not these disbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were an integrated mass, which We then split, and from water We made all living things? Will they not believe even then?” Chapter 21- The Prophets, Verse 30.
Then Qur’an talks about the expansion of the Universe. “With power did We construct Heaven. Verily, We are expanding it.” chapter 51-The Dispersing, verse 47.
Then Qur’an talks about the gaseous state of the Universe and the creation of earth. “Then He turned to the heavens, and it was in a gaseous state. And said to it, and the earth; “Come into existence,
willingly or unwillingly.” They said, “We come willingly.” Chapter 41-Elucidated, verse 11.
These are some of many accurate things Qur’an talks about the universe. It also talks about Big Crunch.” On that day We will fold the heaven, like the folding of a scroll. Just as We initiated the first creation, We will revert it. This is Our promise. We will certainly fulfill it.” Chapter 21-The Prophets, 104.
Then Qur’an poses a question. “Will they not then ponder on the Quran? And if it were from any other than God, they would have found in it many discrepancies.” Chapter 4, The women, Verse- 82.
The multiverse theory if it came out of a religious text would be a laughing stock. There is absolutely no proof not even a thread of evidence for one additional universe let alone a number that rivals the number of atoms in ours. Such is the number required to enable all the universal, independent, immaterial, unchanging laws of physics & their constants to fit within life-permitting values, in a universe that Einstein says is incomprehensibly comprehensible.
Such a theory has only surfaced because as Dawkins says “the greatest challenge facing science is to explain design in the universe” but then he throws in a red herring by saying, : “yeah, but who designed the designer?” No wonder the psalmist wrote, “reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom.” John McCowen, it seems strange you seem to know with such certainty what the fate of our universe will be but can’t even spell common science words like “gravity”. BTW, the 2nd Law only applies in a closed system. Logic would suggest that light energy is expanding “infinitely” faster than matter into the eternal abyss of space & that the death of our universe is assured as all usuble energy is exhausted.
G Denaro
Brisbane Qld
THERE WILL BE NO “BIG CRUNCH”
THE UNIVERSE IS POWERED BY MOMENTUM AND GRAVETY…THAT CAME WITH THE BIG BANG.. MOMENTUM AND GRAVETY WILL CEASE AT SOME POINT…NO ONE CAN TELL WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN …HOWEVER THE INFORMATION WE NOW HAVE ON POWER, FORCE, MOVEMENT, MOMENTUM AND GRAVETY, MANDATES THAT IT WILL HAPPEN. AS NO KNOWN FORCE OR POWER THAT WE KNOW OF CAN LAST FOREVER …AND WHEN IT DOES THE UNIVERSE WILL DISSOLVE INTO A SLUSH .THIS SLUSH IS WHAT IS BEING CALLED “DARK MATTER” . THIS SLUSH IS WHAT IS LEFT OVER FROM MANY UNIVERSES… THE CYCLE HAPPENS OVER AND OVER… BIG BANG …UNIVERSE IS CREATED IT RUNS ITS COURSE AND DISSOLVES…THIS INFORMATION IS COMPILED FROM TRUE KNOWN FACTS…AND CAN NOT BE DISPROVED…ONE MIGHT LOOK AT THE SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS…
JOHN L. MCCOWEN
FITZGERALD, GA.
You Are Here:Prometheus Unbound, very interesting indeed, and just as Professor Vilenkin described.
I am just commencing some studying on Maths and Science, (even though I am retired) so that I have a better understanding of this subject, which is very close to my heart. And it is a pleasure to listen to all you clever interesting people out there!
Regards, Amelia.
What an extraordinary and interesting interview on Thoughtcast with Professor Alex Vilenkin! I admire his theories especially on the subject of the number of finite multiverses and the possibility of the histories he discussed.
During the discussion,’whether God is an equation,’ opened up an understanding for me of the reason why we have been granted our emotions and the freedom of choice, which is one of the great gifts we are given.
Could it be that, because the laws of physics is written in the language of mathematics, there may be a simple law or equation not only beyond our observable region and knowledge but beyond physical existence that cannot be understood in a written language and therefore could never be fully explained in a language that we understand?
Could this be what existed before time, for whom we name God, and that it ‘chose’ to reveal itself in the physical form that we see, hence, (our observable universe.) And therefore, we have the ability to ‘choose’ in this world and to reveal our emotions for all to physically see and experience.
Some of our fate lies in actions and choices we make. In the moving of a chair or the driving of a car, this may all depend on how and if we exist in one of these infinite number of universes.
There is an awesome power with an awe-inspiring beauty that we may wish to worship. How we choose is entirely our own. Evil exists and we have that choice, but in what measure?
Kind Regards
Amelia.