The rules of physics that we study in school and refer to every day may make sense to us, but on a very small scale the sense breaks down completely. At the quantum level, the vacuum of space is boiling with tiny particles constantly popping in and out of existence.
The tiny particles that make up the bricks of everything do not even have a predetermined position, only a range of possible positions dictated by complex rules of probability. And the theoretical physicist Sean Carroll he is completely happy with it. He says the fact that tiny particles like electrons and photons have no fixed place in the universe is evidence that there are many parallel universes. Some call it the Theory of Parallel Universes, but for him it is more of a reality. Yes, parallel universes exist, he says with conviction.
Sean Carroll is a researcher at the Physics Department at California Institute of Technology. He has published in magazines such as Nature, Seed, Sky & Telescope e New Scientist.
“But there is still a lot to do. Not all worlds we can imagine become reality. There are still equations, physical rules, patterns that must be respected. I do not have any identikit of parallel realities, parallel dimensions or a parallel universe. I don't even know exactly how many universes there are beyond ours. If you really want to know, I don't know how many universes there are, how many universes exist. But I know that other universes exist, that's for sure for me. And I know that some possible alternative worlds can become reality. But not all. “
Carroll has advanced innovative and controversial theories on topics such as the Big Bang and the nature of time.
Sean Carroll he is convinced that the universe did not begin in a great explosion but is an infinitely old entity, constantly expanding and in which time can flow “both forwards and backwards”. His theories about time are collected in a book also published in Italy: “From eternity to here”, edited by Adelphi.
He believes that we will soon have the tools to properly explore the quantum realm and later the entire multiverse: “Technology has improved. Maybe things will change."
Sean Carroll and his controversial theories on parallel universes, big bangs and the nature of time
On closer inspection, however, his theories are more "clear" than controversial. Nothing to do with those about the holographic universe, to say.
For Carroll, the “weirdness” of quantum physics is not something to try to incorporate into a larger, simpler, all-embracing theory. To be honest, for Carroll quantum physics is not an "oddity".
As far as we currently know, quantum mechanics is not just an approximation to the truth; is the truth.
There is a lot of speculation about the quantum realm and the theory of parallel universes. Some scientists believe that the quantum realm may be a gateway to other universes or even alternate dimensions. Others believe that the quantum realm is an entirely separate reality, existing alongside ours. No one knows for sure how far research can go, but it is an exciting area that could reveal surprising secrets about the universe.
“Physics is stuck trying to understand the fundamentals of nature and the Big Bang”, he claims. “It's time to take a step back and understand the basics. It's time to address our understanding of the quantum world".
He says we need to forget about classical physics trying to “accommodate” the quantum realm. “We expect it to respect our theories of physics. But that's not really the right way to think. Is the opposite. “