Are We Living In Parallel Universes?, Could cyclic universe explain mystery?

One of the biggest mysteries in cosmology could be explained by a controversial theory in which the universe explodes into existence not just once, but repeatedly in endless cycles of death and rebirth.

Called the cyclic universe theory, it could potentially explain why a mysterious repulsive form of energy known as the "cosmological constant," which is accelerating the expansion of the universe, is several orders of magnitude smaller than predicted by the standard Big Bang model.

Read more...........

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12690177/

All I know is that it's too much to wrap my brain around yet this morning without the recommended daily dosage of caffeine!

dam and here i thought cosmology was like beauty school......
*takes another hit of coffee... pours senara a double in a rare case of total agreement*

An interesting theory that may raise more questions than it answers

I could buy the parellel universe things as mathmatics says we have 10 - 11 dimensions possible (depending on who you listen to) my brain turns to mush thinking about it

My money would go with another explanation for finding less "lambda" than expected. After all it wouldn't be the first time that there was a problem with the math (I'm not talking about addition errors ) i.e. different start point than projected or assumed, need for a new kind of math to explain it.

I think this is one thing that excites me about general and special relativity in that they have gone from the point of conjecture to mounting supporting evidence.

Interesting mental gymnastics none the less.

Mikel

Sorry I didn't see this before -- thanks for posting it. Considering the complexity of the theory, it's very clear and well written for non-physicists like you and me (but caffeine does help That's just better living through chemistry). I find it interesting that the writer saw the implied intelligent design possibilities -- but genuinely cosmic and not limited to the infinitesimally narrow, solipsistic angle of Genesis. Kind of puts a chill up the back.

I do feel inspired to go find out some more about it. We have the most fantastic person on the faculty here, right upstairs from my office, who is deeply involved in this kind of research and has just started a new science talk show. Maybe some of you will be interested:
http://www.mkaku.org/

Sort of like the basis behind a certain series I'm into, centering around a race called the Kecyrath, as they travel along what they call the Chain of Worlds.

Point-of-relevance here being the chain of worlds.

I've long believed in the existence of other dimensions, pocket dimensions, parallel dimensions, and so on. Even with the right dosage of caffeione in the morning, it's a lot to comprehend.

I'd like to read more in-depth on multiple universes and the like. I've recently been reading a lot into the "quantum suicide" experiment and it's mindboggling. It seems like all of these theories are one big circle and we never explain anything, but then again, it seems like the joy/obsession with philosophy and the like is more about the journey than the destination, or am I mistaken? Just a little input on my lunch break..

Eh, I mean "dimensions" instead of "universes".. Damn job, making my mind numb!

Hmmmm.

Can you say more about that, or maybe put in a link to an article or something?

well, i could try to explain it.. but i fear i would fail miserably!

i found out about it via wikipedia..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_suicide

it's interesting.. and mindboggling. i had to read several sentences over and over and over..

(reads, nodding)

Personally, I subscribe to this view:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everett_many-..._interpretation