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October 27

Why in the universe distance is too much

"Is it possible that the vast distances in the universe exist because we're confined to living in the present, and if distances were shorter, it could potentially allow for the existence of a multiverse?" 2402:8100:2042:3355:0:0:2343:ED97 (talk) 11:07, 27 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Universe#Size_and_regions may be of use to you. The multiverse is a broad concept with many different meanings, some of which might apply to your idea of them just being far away. Matt Deres (talk) 19:19, 27 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The notion of "multiverse" is not well defined; there is a multitude of (mutually incompatible) notions that have been proposed. As far as I understand it, the (subjective) notion of the vastness does seem to play a theoretical role in Brian Greene's type of the "quilted multiverse", but it appears to me that the limit to observability beyond a certain distance, which is not subjective, trumps any subjective notion. According to the laws of physics as we understand them, no conceivable experiment can falsify the existence or non-existence of a multiverse. Given this objective fact, the question whether something can "allow for the existence" of a multiverse fails to have a scientific meaning. ‑‑Lambiam 20:52, 27 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Double-slit_experiment#Interference_from_individual_particles can be explained as photons bouncing off parallel universe counterparts. This can be debated, as can any explanation of any experiment. But you needn't say the concept is unfalsifiable, if it's a concept in which universes interact somehow. Card Zero (talk) 04:16, 28 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

If two physical systems interact in accordance with a set of laws, why aren't they simply considered distinct parts of a single universe? Otherwise we can just claim that each galaxy is a separate universe, trillions of which are each one part of the multiverse. ‑‑Lambiam 12:32, 28 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That reminds me of the philosophical/semantic question of surface, and lumping and splitting. The proposed single universe could be considered to contain one large object, which is itself. Card Zero (talk) 12:55, 28 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Aka Spinoza's God. ‑‑Lambiam 09:04, 29 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Well, galaxies have also been called "island universes". --User:Khajidha (talk) (contributions) 11:31, 29 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]