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from the Two-Roads-Diverged-in-a-Yellow-Wood dept.
The existence of parallel universes may seem like something cooked up by science fiction writers, with little relevance to modern theoretical physics. But the idea that we live in a “multiverse” made up of an infinite number of parallel universes has long been considered a scientific possibility – although it is still a matter of vigorous debate among physicists. The race is now on to find a way to test the theory, including searching the sky for signs of collisions with other universes.
It is important to keep in mind that the multiverse view is not actually a theory, it is rather a consequence of our current understanding of theoretical physics. This distinction is crucial. We have not waved our hands and said: “Let there be a multiverse”. Instead the idea that the universe is perhaps one of infinitely many is derived from current theories like quantum mechanics and string theory.
The universes predicted by string theory and inflation live in the same physical space (unlike the many universes of quantum mechanics which live in a mathematical space), they can overlap or collide. Indeed, they inevitably must collide, leaving possible signatures in the cosmic sky which we can try to search for.
Whether we will ever be able to prove their existence is hard to predict. But given the massive implications of such a finding it should definitely be worth the search.
Original Submission
(Score: 1) by furiousoyster on Thursday September 03 2015, @08:05PM
"Maths" is the preferred abbreviation for mathematics in the UK.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 03 2015, @08:19PM
Doesn't make it correct though.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 03 2015, @08:23PM
English is their language.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 03 2015, @08:30PM
They also add u's to words that don't need them. What do you think British people can't speak poor English?
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Thursday September 03 2015, @10:28PM
What do you think British people can't speak poor English?
At least we know how to use punctuation.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 03 2015, @08:58PM
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=math&allowed_in_frame=0 [etymonline.com]
But the American abbreviation is actually older then the British abbreviation. In fact how many other abbreviations can you name that remove the middle of the word and not the end of the word. I can't really think of any others.
(Score: 1) by Roger Murdock on Friday September 04 2015, @02:02AM
Pantaloons -> Pants
Spectacles -> Specs
I spent way too long trying to think of more.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 03 2015, @09:17PM
It's the self-esteem movement in America. "I'm no good at math" sounds like the speaker is only bad at one thing.
BUT "I'm no good at maths" could be an admission of being bad at as many as 7 things.
(Score: 2) by art guerrilla on Friday September 04 2015, @01:21AM
um, are these the same droogies who insist on the phrase 'drink driving' ? ? ?
oh, please tell me how *that* little idiocy 'makes sense'...
(i won't wait for the sputtering and muttering...)
(Score: 2) by TheGratefulNet on Friday September 04 2015, @01:54AM
truth! netcraft conf-
oh fuck it. yes, its how the british talk. maths. deal with it.
(audibly its 'maffs' if you really want to sound british).
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."