StarTalk Podcast: Cosmic Queries – Multiverse Madness with Max Tegmark

Infinite Sizes

The concept of infinite sizes challenges our understanding of mathematics and reality. Max Tegmark explains that some infinities, which seem larger, are actually the same size, while others are even bigger, as demonstrated by George Cantor's work on real numbers 1. This idea extends to the multiverse, where it's possible to have infinite universes within a finite space, a notion supported by Einstein's theory of general relativity 2.

You can have an infinite number of infinitely large universes in a finite universe.

--- Max Tegmark

This paradoxical concept is akin to the ending of "Men in Black," where infinite possibilities exist within a limited framework.

   

Multiverse Implications

The implications of infinite infinities extend to our understanding of the multiverse and reality itself. Neil deGrasse Tyson and Max discuss how observable mysteries in our universe might hint at the existence of a multiverse, suggesting that some phenomena could be evidence of other universes 3. Historically, the realization that the universe is larger than previously thought has been a recurring epiphany, challenging our perception of our place in the cosmos 4.

Are there deep mysteries in our own universe that could themselves be evidence of a multiverse?

--- Neil deGrasse Tyson

This ongoing exploration pushes the boundaries of scientific inquiry, encouraging us to question the limits of our knowledge.