Doesn't some versions of string theory...?

Question

hypothesize the existence of alternate/parallel universes in which every point in history in which things could have gone differently DID go differently in another universe? Or was I misinformed?

Peace,
Byron

Answer 1

I think so - but best not to think about it too much if you value your sanity

Answer 2

The essential idea behind string theory is this: all of the different 'fundamental ' particles of the Standard Model are really just different manifestations of one basic object: a string. Relativistic quantum field theory has worked very well to describe the observed behaviors and properties of elementary particles. But the theory itself only works well when gravity is so weak that it can be neglected. Particle theory only works when we pretend gravity doesn't exist.
General relativity has yielded a wealth of insight into the Universe, the orbits of planets, the evolution of stars and galaxies, the Big Bang and recently observed black holes and gravitational lenses. However, the theory itself only works when we pretend that the Universe is purely classical and that quantum mechanics is not needed in our description of Nature.
String theory is believed to close this gap.
Originally, string theory was proposed as an explanation for the observed relationship between mass and spin for certain particles called hadrons, which include the proton and neutron. Things didn't work out, though, and Quantum Chromodynamics eventually proved a better theory for hadrons.
But particles in string theory arise as excitations of the string, and included in the excitations of a string in string theory is a particle with zero mass and two units of spin.
If there were a good quantum theory of gravity, then the particle that would carry the gravitational force would have zero mass and two units of spin. This has been known by theoretical physicists for a long time. This theorized particle is called the graviton.

Answer 3

I believe all versions of string theory are still bound to the notion in quantum physics that particles do not take a fixed position in space until they are observed. Thus, its not so much that every possible thing that could have happened happens in an alternate universe, instead it is more likely that the universe is a sea of potentialities containing all possible occurences at once, and it is not until the observer observes (that we exist and use our eyes, ears, etc) that a reality is created.

By observing particles while they are waves (collapsing the wave function), we are instituting relativism... which means this is what we perceive as "time". According to quantum thoery, time does not exist at the quantum level, at least not in the "arrow" of 'then to now' and 'now to future'. So, time is a sensation of relativism form observing one particle relative to itself, and that particle being observed *again* and also being observed relative to others.

Thus, its not possible for realities to simply "appear" and offshoot into other universes, because this would require an infinte number of observers in our universe all creating reality at the same time. It is not necessary for there to be parallel univserses in order for everything that can and will happen to actually be. It is extremely wasteful.. what would be the point? This is where we draw the line of free will and its not necessary to debate here, but it should be obvious that my answer is based on the notion that we all do have free will to some degree and that instead of assuming everything is already there, observed, rather everything is unobserved, and thus, that is why we are here at all!

Think of things the other way around.. instead of thinking that universes some how spring out of nothing infinitely... consider the opposite, that all the *potential* for these universes already exist, but we are responsible for putting only certain ones into existence.

Answer 4

This is one path of speculation in the multiverse theory.

Answer 5

That sounds correct to me.

Answer 6

yes pretty much that is was it suggests.