The concept of a multiverse/parallel universes is very fascinating, as can be judged from those depicted in science fiction stories/movies and fantasy stories but can it possibly exist ?
The truth is that no one knows for sure, for now it is still a philosophical topic. Scientifically, a multiverse can be another plausible way of explaining the existence of our universe or why our universe appears to be the way it is, normally, with the way our universe is, it is logical to say that it was designed intentionally by a much more intelligent and powerful being - God, especially when it comes to the existence of life. However, if you want to do away with God, you can invoke the multiverse concept, we can simply say reality began spontaneously with all/infinite possibilities (it could be through any physical process, be it through the big bang or any other plausible physical process), that is, each possibilities corresponds to different universes - multiverse, and if there are infinite universes, then there exist at least one universe possessing the properties of our universe - which is indeed our universe.
There are in fact mainstream physics theories that suggests we might exist in a multiverse and they are discussed below.
Cosmic inflation
According to mainstream science, our observable universe began with a big bang from a singularity - a point with infinite density and temperature, but there were mysteries that the big bang theory couldn't explain such as the horizon problem - why the universe appears the same everywhere at large scale, flatness problem - why the universe is flat at large scale, and magnetic monopole problem - why magnetic monopoles doesn't exist. To resolve these problems, an additional theory to the big bang theory was developed - cosmic inflation happened shortly after the big bang singularity and before the actual big bang. This theory not only theoretically resolved the problems but also predicted other stuffs that have been confirmed from observation.
However, the cosmic inflation theory suggests that we might exist in a multiverse.
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics - theory that accurately describes the atomic/quantum world, suggests that we might exist in a multiverse and it stems from one interpretation of quantum mechanics. According to quantum mechanics - the theory, quantum particles can be in multiple states at the same time but when we observe the particle, we see it in only one state - not in multiple states. The question now is, how does the particle transition from many states to a single state at the same time ?
Quantum mechanics does not say how it happens and it has become one of the unsolved problems of physics. One interpretation which is also the first proposed interpretation, called the Copenhagen interpretation says that when an observer observes the particle, the multiple states collapses to a random single state and all other states are lost, what this means is that the reality we observe cannot exist without observation, it is like saying that by not observing your house, your house as it is does not exist, this we know seems senseless classically - your house as it is, is supposed to be like that irrespective of looking at it or not. Some physicists found this interpretation to be unsatisfactory and sought after a more sensible one.
In 1957, a new interpretation was proposed by Hugh Everett and it is called the "many worlds interpretation". According to this interpretation, each state in the many states predicted by quantum mechanics corresponds to different universes, that is, each universe has the quantum particle with a unique state. The state we observe the particle in our universe to possess is the state the particle in our universe is supposed to and will continue to have, there's no true collapse from multiple state to a single state. When we say a particle is in multiple states at the same time, then we are talking about a multiverse - not a universe, the Copenhagen interpretation suggests that the particle is in multiple states at the same time in a universe.
Notice that the many worlds interpretation seems more sensible compared to the Copenhagen interpretation but then, it requires that we exist in a multiverse.
String theory
String theory is a leading theory that attempts to unify all the fundamental forces of nature (including uniting quantum physics and general relativity) into a single framework - theory of everything, by postulating that elementary particles are one dimensional vibrating strings, the vibration gives rise to the properties of the particle such as the mass, charge and spin.
Despite being successful in theory, it's predictions are yet to be verified experimentally, thus making it not yet a viable theory of everything. One prediction of string theory is the existence of a multiverse.
Notice that the theories discussed above are mainstream physics theories, they are what makes up modern physics and they all predict the existence of a multiverse. Just like it's not possible at this moment to prove/disprove the existence of God, it is also not possible at this moment to prove/disprove the existence of a multiverse, it is for now a philosophical topic not a scientific one. In order to prove the existence of a multiverse directly, we need to observe it but unlike what we see in sci-fi movies where people from one universe can move to other parallel universe (as in the case of the DC's TV series crisis on infinite Earths/Marvel's Loki TV series) to interact, the experimentally tested theories discussed previously forbids it. In the case of cosmic inflation, it is impossible because the universes are moving away from each other at speed greater than the vacuum speed of light, in the case of many worlds interpretation, it would mean that a particle can be in multiple states at the same time in a universe - a problem we are trying to avoid.
To disprove the multiverse, we need to physically explore beyond our observable universe which at this moment is impossible. Whatever the answer to this mysterious question might be, we would have to wait to find out, probably when we have gotten so technologically advanced.
It is here we conclude this article, have a thoughtful day and see you next time.
For further reading
Do parallel universes exist? We might live in a multiverse
Thank you all once again for stopping by to read my jargons and also thank you @juecoree, @discovery-it and the @Steemstem team for your valuable supports.
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