MultiverseAn Infinity Of Universes1/1/2001 Dozens of cosmic characteristics must be exquisitely fine-tuned to make physical life possible. The degree of fine-tuning observed exceeds by many orders of magnitude the fine-tuning of which humans are capable. Despite such evidence, rather than because of it, some people, including scientists, speculate about the existence of an infinite number of universes. An Infinity Of Universes?7/1/2001 The weight of evidence for a divinely designed universe is now so overwhelming that it has forced astronomers and philosophers who reject the God of the Bible as the Author of the cosmos to propose the existence of an infinite number of universes. These scholars readily concede that dozens of different characteristics of the universe must be exquisitely fine-tuned for any kind of conceivable physical life to be possible. Best Of Multiverse Musings1/6/2010 Scientific research regularly involves taking a new concept from one field and applying it to solve a problem in a different field. Often, an initially promising solution ends up falling short upon closer examination of the details. Cosmic Brane Scans7/1/2002 As physicians use scanning devices to view the hidden structures and activities of the brain, astronomers can now use distant supernovae and high-resolution cosmic background radiation maps to scan the structures and properties of “branes.” Defusing The Antimatter Bomb5/19/2009 Do Infinite Universes Explain The Fine-tuning?1/1/2008 A monkey randomly hitting keys on a keyboard will eventually produce the entire collection of Shakespeare's works–at least if the monkey types for an infinite amount of time. The truth of the previous statement relies on (at least) two conditions. First, the monkey must actually use all the keys in a random fashion. Second, but more important, the keyboard must contain all the necessary letters and punctuation to produce Shakespeare's works. Earth Just Barely Large Enough2/13/2008 All the recent talk about global warming highlights one critical characteristic of Earth that makes the planet habitable, namely plate tectonics. As I discussed two weeks ago, Venus and Earth are remarkably similar in terms of their size and composition. Facing Up To Big Bang Challenges1/1/2001 What danger lurks in associating big bang cosmology with biblical cosmology? Most Christian physicists, astronomers, and other scientists would say, “None.” Many Christian philosophers, theologians, pastors, and other nonscientists would say, “A big one.” How Does A Christian Respond To The Multiverse Concept?1/1/2006 Talking to many members of the scientific community, one easily gets the impression that the multiverse model is a done deal, the ultimate reality. Lhc in the News Again9/16/2009 Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is in the news again. Multiverse Musings - Are Infinities Physical?7/25/2007 Last month’s multiverse discussion focused on one of its less controversial aspects—the idea that the universe extends beyond the limits of our observations. The uniformity we see in our universe (the cosmic microwave background radiation being the best example) strongly argues for this point. Multiverse Musings - Are We Simulations?1/16/2008 In past Multiverse Musings TNRTBs, I have described not just one, but two bizarre implications of the multiverse. This TNRTB addresses a third. Multiverse Musings - Before The Big Bang1/28/2009 Does the universe end at the farthest reaches we can observe? If it doesn’t, then what characteristics does this realm beyond the observable universe exhibit? Multiverse Musings - Boltzmann Brains12/5/2007 It is widely accepted that cosmologists, astronomers, physicists, chemists and geologists have detected fine-tuning and design in the universe. Most skeptical responses to this apparent design seek to explain the low probability of our life-friendly universe when compared to the vastly more numerous life-hostile universes. Multiverse Musings - Does It Jive With The Big Bang?10/7/2009 I want to start this entry with a huge apology. In the last week, our tech support staff realized that the emails sent to the address below were not reaching my inbox. The problem is now fixed. I have received all the past emails and am working to respond to each. I address one here. Multiverse Musings - Does The Multiverse Destroy Science?May 28, 2008 I am trying a test with today’s TNRTB. We received an email question recently. Multiverse Musings - Evidence Against A Level I Multiverse7/23/2008 One central component of RTB’s creation model posits that the universe is designed to support life. Various documents from RTB articulate the growing body of evidence that buttresses this idea. Multiverse Musings - I'm A Nobel Laureate10/3/2007 A few months ago, I discussed how a spatially infinite, Level I multiverse would impact apologetic arguments based on the fine-tunings of our observable universe. Although a number of philosophical arguments arise against an actual infinity, a sufficiently large but spatially finite Level I multiverse presents the same challenges to fine-tuning arguments. Multiverse Musings - Introduction5/23/2007 Since joining RTB in August 2005, I have devoted a fair bit of time trying to understand the latest ideas on the multiverse and how it impacts our apologetic arguments. I find it fascinating and complex and worthy of the effort to begin understanding the important issues—especially since the multiverse garners a lot of publicity. Multiverse Musings - Is It God Or The Multiverse?12/17/2008 Reasons To Believe has cataloged a large number of fine-tuned aspects of the universe, all of which make it fit for life. A recent article in New Scientist highlights one particular parameter, namely the ratio of dark matter to normal matter (electrons, protons, neutrons, etc.). Multiverse Musings - Measuring Cosmological Parameters8/22/2007 Last month’s multiverse musings delineated some philosophical objections to the existence of actual infinities. However, an extremely large but spatially finite universe could still negate the significance of the fine-tuning arguments used in Christian apologetics. Multiverse Musings - Plausibility Vs. Probability4/14/2010 Time magazine once quoted Bill Gates saying “It’s possible, you can never know, that the universe exists for me. If so, it’s sure going well for me, I must admit.” Multiverse Musings - Probability Arguments7/4/2007 Last month I defined some terminology and provided a categorization of the different kinds of multiverses discussed by scientists. The least controversial multiverse, Level I, simply states that the universe does not end at the edge of the region observable by humans. The issue of the universe’s true size naturally arises. Multiverse Musings - Requirements For A Naturalist Worldview8/27/2008 Would it trouble you if scientists discover that a multiverse actually exists? I see two issues in formulating a response to this question. First, does the multiverse conflict with Christianity? Second, how does the multiverse impact apologetics? Multiverse Musings - Reviewing The Evidence4/8/2009 I received an email asking this question: "Do you know of any physical evidence or proof that indicates other universes exist?" With the growing popularity of multiverse explanations, one might expect to see a relatively large body of evidence supporting the idea. In reality only a handful of observations directly impact multiverse models and those measurements tend to argue against the existence of "other universes." Multiverse Musings - Signatures From Beyond The Universe11/5/2008 Next August, Reasons To Believe will host a conference on a week-long Alaska cruise onboard a Holland America ship. Those of you who plan to come along will enjoy all the comforts the ship offers as it sails along the beautiful Alaskan coast. Multiverse Musings - Summary Of The Discussion To Date2/27/2008 Since May 2007, I have been regularly addressing the subject of multiverse models. To recap, I’d like to summarize the various previous topics covered on this subject. Additionally, I would like to know what multiverse questions and issues concern you. Multiverse Musings - The Beginning2/6/2008 The cosmological and teleological arguments represent the two strongest evidences (with scientific relevance) in support of the Christian God. Obviously, the multiverse models impact these two arguments and Christians need to be prepared to address these concerns. Multiverse Musings - The Lhc And Extra Dimensions9/24/2008 A team of particle physicists hope to soon being operation of the most powerful man-made particle accelerator, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Although much press has focused on scientists who claim that LHC might produce objects that will eventually destroy Earth, I thought it useful to discuss one potential discovery it might make, namely the existence of extra dimensions. Multiverse Musings - Typing Monkeys, Shakespeare, And Jammed Typewriters5/27/2009 A couple years ago, I ran across a Get Fuzzy comic strip (see below) relevant to the multiverse. It plays off a popular confusion people encounter when dealing with probabilities and large sample sizes. Multiverse Musings - What If It’s Correct?4/30/2008 Science fiction and fantasy has always fascinated me. From epic good v. evil battles in Star Wars and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe to the simulated reality of The Matrix, I am intrigued by the happenings of other worlds. Multiverse Musings: An Updated Summary5/20/2011 I started writing about multiverse related topics back in May 2007. I summarized some of these ideas in early 2008, but I have written numerous other articles since and thought it time for a more up-to-date summary. So here it is. Multiverse Musings: Does Inflation Imply A Change In The Laws Of Physics?9/8/2010 I received a number of follow-up questions and comments regarding last week’s TNRTB on inflation. One specific inquiry concerning young-earth (YE) creationism and inflation intrigued me. Multiverse Musings: Fine-tuning And B-theories Of Time3/18/2011 I recently received an email with a few good questions. Question 1 Do the multiverse models espoused by Sean Carroll and Alan Guth require fine-tuning at the level of the multiverse “bubble machine?” Multiverse Musings: How Does Inflation Lead To A Multiverse?9/15/2010 Not to beat a dead horse, but one final issue regarding inflation needs clarification. I made this statement in a past TNRTB: “The issue of whether inflation models also produce a multiverse and, if so, does that multiverse argue against a Christian worldview are separate issues.” Multiverse Musings: More Evidence From Beyond?5/19/2010 A while back, I reported on a discovery indicating that the universe extends far beyond the portion we can see (known as the observable universe). Now the evidence for this yet-to-be-observed region, the multiverse, grows even stronger. Multiverse Musings: Not Fine-tuned Enough?2/18/2011 A recent paper entitled “Evidence against Fine Tuning for Life” appears to falsify a major component of RTB’s creation model—namely that the universe is fine-tuned for life on many scales. However, a closer inspection of the research shows how this result fits comfortably within RTB’s model and highlights an apologetic pitfall. Multiverse Musings: The Double Slit Experiment6/16/2010 Here’s a multiverse question I received the other day. I would like to know how parallel universe advocates use the double slit experiment of firing photons through the slits results in validation of a parallel universe model. Could you explain and elaborate? Multiverse Musings: What About Theistic Evolution?11/3/2010
I recently attended The Vibrant Dance of Faith and Science conference held in Austin, TX. The stated mission of the conference was: To provide pastors, church leaders, and scientists with quality, accessible explanations of the relationship between science and Christianity. This information will have solid Biblical and scientific foundations and will enhance their comfort and effectiveness as they dialog in matters that touch on the scientific in their local settings. Multiverse Musings: What Is Inflation?9/1/2010 The multiverse— particularly the Level II models that inflationary cosmology seems to require—continues to intrigue people. In order to evaluate multiverse models, one should possess a basic understanding of inflation. One recent inquirer posed the issue this way: Novel Technique Affirms Presence Of Dark Energy1/21/2011 If one person tells me that something unbelievable happened, I am skeptical. If a second person gives me the same story, I’m less skeptical. And if a third, independent source offers the same account, that pretty much convinces me that the event indeed happened. Science often advances with a similar philosophy as demonstrated by the development of dark energy models. Testing The Copernican Principle1/2/2008 In the sixteenth century, Nicolas Copernicus revived an idea originating with early Greek philosophers that the Sun, instead of the Earth, resided at the center of the solar system. Subsequent observations by Galileo and others validated the Copernican, or heliocentric, view. Theism Vs. The Many-worlds Hypothesis7/14/2005 Up to this point, I have consistently set aside the possibility that the anthropic coincidences could be explained in terms of the many-worlds hypothesis, the hypothesis that there actually exists some very large number (perhaps infinite, at least 10 to the 200th power) of universes, similar in scale to our own observable universe, randomly varying in case to case in the precise values taken by the various physical and cosmological constants. What Is The Multiverse?6/1/2006 For decades scientists of all disciplines recognized exquisite fine-tuning in the laws governing the universe in order to permit life. If the individual strengths or ratios of the four fundamental forces of nature observed today -- gravity, electromagnetic force, and the strong and weak nuclear forces -- were minutely stronger or weaker, life becomes impossible. Why The Universe Is The Way It Is1/1/2006 In the best-selling science book of all time, author Stephen Hawking explains that no human is content until he or she has complete answers to the following questions: "What is the nature of the universe? What is our place in it and where did it and we come from? Why is it the way it is?" MultiverseAnother Cyclic Universe ModelDave Rogstad, Jeff Zweerink, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre Big Bang Anomaly ResolvedHugh Ross, Dave Rogstad, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre Can Spaceships Travel Faster than Speed of Light?Hugh Ross, Dave Rogstad, and Joe Aguirre Contaminated Life on Mars?Dave Rogstad, Jeff Zweerink, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre Design in Biochemical Systems and Hydrogen MoleculesHugh Ross, Fuz Rana, Jeff Zweerink, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre Do We Live in a Giant Cosmic Bubble?Author: Dr. Jeffrey Zweerink Glimpse Before Big Bang PossibleDownload Episode God is Not Dead YetHugh Ross, Dave Rogstad, Jeff Zweerink, and Ken Samples ID Struck Down in PAHugh Ross, Jeff Zweerink, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre More Big Bang Evidence: Primordial Magnetic FieldHugh Ross, Dave Rogstad, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre Mysterious New "Dark Flow" Discovered in SpaceAuthor: Dr. Jeffrey Zweerink Smelly Lakes, String Theory, MultiverseHugh Ross, Jeff Zweerink, and Joe Aguirre The Elegant CosmosAuthor: Hugh Ross, Jeff Zweerink & Kenneth Samples What Are Multiverses?Jeff Zweerink, Dave Rogstad, Kenneth Samples, and Fuz Rana Why This Universe?Jeff Zweerink, Dave Rogstad, Kenneth Samples, and Joe Aguirre MultiverseWho's Afraid of The MultiversePrice: $11.50 Astrophysicist, Dr. Jeff Zweerink, explores multiverse theory and its implications for biblical creation models in the booklet Who's Afraid of the Multiverse? Do other worlds exist beyond the observable universe? If we do live in what scientists call a multiverse, doesnt this rule out the necessity of a Creator? In Who's Afraid of the Multiverse? Jeff tackles these questions and many more as he explains this increasingly popular view of the universe. He provides readable explanations of |
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