Space Wonder Project

The question that I had for my inquiry project is:

 “Do other universes have the same properties as us, and how does this affect us?”

I chose this question because it is something I have been interested in for a while and something that I wanted to know more about. I did some extensive research on this subject to gain some answers.

Multiverse Theory:

In order to find a conclusive answer to my question first we need to understand what multiverse theory is. Multiverse theory is essentially the idea that there are many, many more universes outside of our universe (our observable universe) that we are not able to see or interact with. These universes might be different from or have different properties than our universe in general. It was theorized that multiverses are possible because of cosmic microwave background radiation. When we look at cosmic microwave background radiation, we notice that it creates kind of a pattern and has slight variations in different parts of space. These variations show astrophysicists fluctuations of temperature, matter, energy, density waves, and the general “geography of space in some areas”. Because of the variations some astrophysicists are led to believe that the universe is constantly expanding and never ending even beyond our observable universe in different ways that we cannot see. There are many types of multiverse theory as astrophysicists disagree on the ways that these other universes come about to be or act.

It is generally thought that these fluctuations show us that there are parts outside of our observable universe we cannot see that are in some ways related to our universe put separate as well. It is hypothesized that because of these difference Big Bang like cosmic events could have occurred past our observable universe to make these other areas of space separate “bubbles” that would be universes different from us. This would be known as the multiverse.

Here is a good video detailing the different ways multiverse theory can work:

Inflationary Theory:

These fluctuations in the universe and in cosmic microwave background radiation are generally known to be a part of inflationary theory. These fluctuations in density waves, temperature, matter, and energy fundamentally show that there was a period of time where our universe rapidly inflated and has kept on going at slower rates than before but still quiet quickly, just at different rates. In a nutshell as the universe gets older, we can observe it through the differences in wavelengths and other properties (temperature, matter, energy). It is thought that since the universe it constantly expanding, there’s parts past our observable universe that have expanded so far out they might as well be their own universe as their properties are different than our universe. It is theorized that inflation took the effects of the Big Bang and basically expanded them rapidly.

It is theorized as well that there might have been Big Bangs before ours that had their own inflation and they inflated until our Big Bang happened and carried the same affect even farther. Past events in our universe like previously mentioned about the multiverse could explain why Big Bangs happened in the past of our “bubble” or universe.

Bubble Universe Theory:

Bubble universe theory essentially takes the concepts of inflationary theory and multiverse theory and puts them together. Using bubble universe theory, we can explain the original inquiry question.  Bubble theory basically states that there are many universes expanded past our observable universe that are so far, we will never see or interact with them. These universes are essentially “bubbles” disconnected from us, and bubbles that are rapidly expanding just like our own universe using inflation. Some astrophysicists speculate that these universes probably had their own Big Bangs whose effects are being carried by their universes own inflation separate from ours. Fluctuations in space a long time ago could have created these Big Bangs or events like them to separate “bubbles” or universes in how their properties work, and how connected they are to other universes.

Since these universes are basically disconnected from us astrophysicist’s hypothesis that these universes share the same physics as us since they have had Big Bangs and they possibly shared one with us before disconnecting.  Yet the nature of the physics, meaning how they act and react, and shape is different. This in turn means that these universes would have different properties or for lack of a better term different “science’ than us. This theory also indicates that since our universes inflate separately, in all directions our universe could potentially collide with another as they inflate towards each other. This Collison could create its own Big Bang as there is enough energy to, the result would be a difference in nature of physics and properties of these universes as they intermingle their properties and natures. These collisions are made possible by disconnection these universes had a long time ago through their own Big Bangs or events similar to them. Again, this is all made possible through fluctuations space has as it expands (matter, energy, temperature, etc.).

 

How Bubble Universe Theory Works:

Astrophysicists have a lot of evidence for why they think bubble universe exists, and for how they work. It is theorized that these universes exist because of cosmic microwave background radiation. Since the cosmic microwave background radiation has so many variations all across space and since the tiniest changes can make the nature of physics different it is theorized that bubble universes exist like our own. For context if the physics of gravity is just changed a little where gravity has less power than dark energy which is essentially the opposite of gravity (it helps the universe expand faster) it could change the way planets form.  Or if electromagnetic forces had their physics tweaked just a little so that their force is less powerful it would mean the nuclear fusion of stars would change. Since the smallest changes can have a huge impact it is thought that other universes (bubbles) exist with these slight differences due to their nature of physics being different even if their Big Bangs had the same properties as ours. Inflationary theory also supports bubble universe theory as it would explain how these universes would expand endlessly like ours. Inflation would expand their Big Bangs effects forever just like ours at different rates of expansion, just like our Big Bang.

Here is  diagram showing how bubble universe theory can work:

How this would affect Us:

There are few reasons for how bubble universe theory could affect us and our universe.

  1. The first way that it could affect us is our perception and use of physics and their nature. For a long time now, it has been thought that the laws of physics and their nature is set in stone and unchanging meaning that it is constant throughout all of space. By this logic eventually advancements in technology and astrophysics could mean more discoveries throughout space. However, if bubble universe theory is correct and there are universes out there with a different nature of physics it would completely change our perception of physics. If other universes had a different nature of physics, it would mean that no universe has the concrete system of physics and its laws. As a result, the research of science and space travel could be completely different. It is possible that there are different ways that we could conduct the research of space through a different nature of its physics. However, we cannot do this since we do not know those other ways that physics could act and react. A good example is dark energy. Dark energy is a force that we know very little about. In fact, we know so little that, the only primary knowledge we have of it is that it is essentially the opposite of gravity. It pushes things away instead of together.

 

Possibly dark energy could be understood and used if we developed technology or sciences under the assumption of different laws of physics. We cannot do this however, because we don’t know of any other universes that would have those different physical laws. There is further evidence for this when we understand that if bubble theory is true and collisions of universes could occur, we might have properties in our universe that we originally did not have. For example, it is possible that long before us our universe collided with another as they both inflated. This would have the power to create a Big Bang theoretically, with all that energy. This would in turn mean that in our “chapter” of our universe we have properties and nature of physics from two different universes. This would mean that we need to understand the laws of both to fully understand everything in our universe and the nature of all astronomy in our universe. An example of a property from a previous collision could be dark energy, perhaps a past collision is where it came from. The understanding of our own universe and its properties through acknowledging that physics and their nature could be completely different from what we understand is one way that bubble theory could affect us.

 

  1. The second way that bubble universe theory could affect us is, if in the future a collision were to occur between our universe and another that is rapidly inflating. Like previously mentioned before, it is possible that with the amount on energy both universes have a new Big Bang could form out of the collisions that would then inflate and change the nature of physics of our universe and the other we collided with. It is entirely possible that the second Big Bang would either annihilate everything or inflate leaving us around. Since the exact nature of the Big Bang isn’t too well known especially if one were to form from two universes it is not possible to pinpoint exactly what would happen. If this collision would create a Big Bang that annihilates everything this would be a very cataclysmic way, we would be affected. The rapid inflation of energy would eviscerate and destroy many things in our universe leaving nothing behind but the eventual quarks the new Big Bang made to then start a new universe. If this were to happen it would be like hitting a restart button on our universe. A new universe would form possibly with a new nature of physics that then goes on to create a different universe than the one previously there. If this indeed did happen, we would not be able to do anything and the affect would be the extinction of humans, earth, and our solar system. Thankfully, this is not the only possibility.

 

There is a possibility that the universes would not have the means to create a new Big Bang, instead the nature of physics from both our universe and the other would in a way mesh together. The result would make our universe far different from what we know now. Astrophysics would be completely different and there is a possibility that much of our scientific devices would no longer work. For example, if electromagnetic force is changed then magnets would be different (weaker or stronger). Thermodynamics would also change with the distribution of heat possibly being different. Prompting basic devices that harness power of heat to change like stoves and other household devices. Many aspects of science could potentially change and much of our technology would be useless or ineffective. If we were to survive this change, then researching science would be a lot more difficult and different. Basic principles of physics that we used to build technology and explain certain phenomenon would be false and we would need to change entirely our understanding of physics. This would need many years of new research to even understand the basic concepts of our new world and our new universe. We would spend many years trying to gain back what we originally lost. The collisions of universes and how it would change our lives and science is another way that bubble theory could affect us.

Conclusion:

In the end the answer to my question: “Do other universes have different properties than ours?” is a yes based on the research of some theories. Based on bubble theory the possibility that other universes have different physics from ours is defiantly there. Since bubble theory, inflationary theory, and multiverse theory are hypothesized based off of concrete evidence astrophysicists have, it is safe to assume that we can label my question as being possible. There is a high likelihood that many universes exist out past our observable universe. The ways bubble theory could affect us here on earth is also based off of much evidence that is proven, which again leads to a high probability that my inquiry questions answer is a yes. In conclusion based on evidence that is proven, the theories bubble theory, multiverse theory, and inflationary theory all lead to the fact that the answer to my question: “Do other universes have different properties than ours?” is a resounding yes.

 

Common Questions:

Are these other universes connected to us?

These universes were technically connected to us. However, if they have experienced their own big bangs because of events that happened to those areas of space (fluctuations). Or they inflated with very different variations and fluctuations in space as us, they are entirely different working bubbles of space. In that regard they are known as their own universes or “bubbles”. There is also a chance that if they had a Big Bang this would separate them completely. Since the nature of Big Bangs aren’t fully known there is the possibly that if these parts of space with different variations experienced them that, they would entirely split from us. The inflating nature of this new Big Bang could be a reason for a split as all that inflation would need to sever from us in order to spread. Likewise, it could collide with us in that process of inflating.

Do these other universes have the same physics as us?

Other universes have the same properties as ours, because they would have Big Bangs similar to ours or they would have been originally part of ours. However, slight variations in the way these properties or physics interact with each other, which is a different nature of physics makes them different from our universe. These different nature of physics are brought on by fluctuations in cosmic microwave background radiation mentioned before. The fluctuations in cosmic microwave background radiation could have also created Big Bangs which would further enhance these difference nature of physics.

What are these fluctuations?

The fluctuations are the differences in cosmic microwave background radiation across space. Small differences in temperature, density of waves, matter, energy, and much more are known as fluctuations in cosmic microwave background radiation. These fluctuations create almost a pattern in space which helps us understand and give evidence to theories such as, bubble theory and many other multiverse theories.

 

Works Consulted:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiverse#:~:text=The%20simulated%20multiverse%20exists%20on%20complex%20computer%20systems%20that%20simulate%20entire%20universes.&text=The%20ultimate%20multiverse%20contains%20every,under%20different%20laws%20of%20physics.

https://youtu.be/Ywn2Lz5zmYg

https://www.quantamagazine.org/multiverse-proof-possibility-from-colliding-universes-20141110/

https://www.space.com/31465-is-our-universe-just-one-of-many-in-a-multiverse.html

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160318-why-there-might-be-many-more-universes-besides-our-own

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/03/15/this-is-why-the-multiverse-must-exist/?sh=3ac1b5db6d08

Data Project Self Reflection and Poster

The reason I chose this set of Data was that I found it interesting and I believed I could make a visually appealing digital poster for it. I found the statistics really interesting and also how disease caused a lot of mortality as well as some unexpected sources like accidental injuries. That is why I chose this set of data for my project. I also believed that a visually appealing and eye catching poster could be made for it which I believe turned out just how I wanted it to. I also thought that a subject like this would be best represented as a poster, because as a drawing or a 3D print I feel like the gravity of the data would be lost as well as what the data represents.

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