many-worlds hypothesis

is the idea that each universe branches into a bunch of new universes every time a quantum measurement is made. All possibilities are therefore realized in some universes the dinosaur-killing asteroid missed earth.

The idea of parallel universes in quantum mechanics has been around since 1957,' explained Howard Wiseman, a physicist at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, and one of the physicist to come up with MIW. 'In the well-known 'Many-Worlds Interpretation', each universe branches into a bunch of new universes every time a quantum measurement is made. All possibilities are therefore realised in some universes the dinosaur-killing asteroid missed Earth. In others, Australia was colonised by the Portuguese.'

is the idea that there exist a universal force of repulsion between 'nearby' (i.e. Similar) worlds, which tends to make them more dissimilar.

But critics question the reality of these other universes, since they do not influence our universe at all,' he added. 'On this score, our 'Many Interacting Worlds' approach is completely different, as its name implies.' Wiseman and colleagues have proposed that there exist 'a universal force of repulsion between 'nearby' (i.e. similar) worlds, which tends to make them more dissimilar.' Quantum effects can be explained by factoring in this force, they propose.

many worlds hypothesis, n.All

many worlds hypothesis