The Marvel multiverse puts different versions of our universe out there, somewhere.
For example (spoilers!
In the universe of the movie, magic is possible.
This magic, thanks to a misfiring spell from superhero Dr.
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So, which of these ideas has Marvel borrowed from science, and which ones are pure fiction?
InDr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the multiverse is breached by various magical spells and special abilities. Image:
Multiverse lite: a really big universe
Could there be other Earths?
Scientifically, its possible, because we dont know how big our universe actually is.
With enough space and enough planets, any possibility becomes likely.
The fiction of the Marvel multiverse stems from the ability to travel between these other earths.
Theres a good reason why Dr.
Strange needs to use magic for this.
According to Albert Einstein, we cant travel through space faster than light.
are able to make amazing things, such as human life.
Your body is astounding: energy-gathering, information-processing, mini-machine building, self-repairing.
Physicistshave discoveredthat the ability of our universes building blocks to make life forms is extremely rare.
Just any old blocks wont do.
Or, indeed,anythingthat could be called alive.
How did our universe get the right mix of ingredients?
Perhaps we won the cosmic lottery.
This is the scientific multiverse: not simply more of our universe, but universes with different fundamental ingredients.
Most are dead, but very very rarely, the right combination for life-forms comes up.
Cosmic inflation and the Big Bang
What was our universe like in the past?
The evidence suggests that the universe was hotter, denser and smoother.
This is called theBig Bang Theory.
But was there a Big Bang?
But were not sure, so scientists have explored a bunch of other options.
But, how do you make a universe expand so rapidly?
The answer is a new key in of energy field.
Cosmic inflation might make a multiverse.
According this idea, most of space is expanding, inflating, doubling in size, moment to moment.
Weve made a multiverse.
So is there a Multiverse?
In the cycle of the scientific method, the multiverse is in an exploratory phase.
Weve got an idea that might explain a few things,ifit was true.
That makes it worthy of our attention, but its not quite science yet.
We need to find evidence that is more direct, more decisive.
Something left over from the aftermath of the multiverse generator might help.
A multiverse idea could also predict the winning numbers on our lottery ticket.
However, as Dr Strange explains, The multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little.
