NASA Finds Alternate Universe?

Thoughts? 

I think the concept of multiple versions of the universe borders more on fiction than fact.  The data is far too new and unrefined to jump to the conclusion that what we are seeing is the footprint of an alternate universe.  We know voids exist in the structure of the universe, so, in my mind, there's no reason to think that what they've found is anything more than the largest void yet.  I know they want to say that the size of the void is larger than it should be able to be based on current calculations, but how many times have we had to redfine our math based on actual observations?  We've found exoplanets that trashed our calculations, we've observed supernovae that created new parameters, and less than 100 years ago we had to redefine what the universe was when Hubble showed us that the Milky Way wasn't all that there is.  So I don't think I'll buy into the supposition that the "hole" is evidence for an alternate universe.  Not yet anyway.

zachsdad:

I think the concept of multiple versions of the universe borders more on fiction than fact.  The data is far too new and unrefined to jump to the conclusion that what we are seeing is the footprint of an alternate universe.  We know voids exist in the structure of the universe, so, in my mind, there's no reason to think that what they've found is anything more than the largest void yet.  I know they want to say that the size of the void is larger than it should be able to be based on current calculations, but how many times have we had to redfine our math based on actual observations?  We've found exoplanets that trashed our calculations, we've observed supernovae that created new parameters, and less than 100 years ago we had to redefine what the universe was when Hubble showed us that the Milky Way wasn't all that there is.  So I don't think I'll buy into the supposition that the "hole" is evidence for an alternate universe.  Not yet anyway.

I agree, there has to be a lot more evidence than what they have now for me to believe in it, too. Maybe I should have been born in Missouri , because you have to "show-me".

M31,  there is a thread in the "Off Topics Discussion" area called 'When Will the Aliens Show Themselves' that may be of interest to you.  It has been idle for 5 or 6 weeks, but there was some spirited discussion there.

   I think that due to science and mathematics phenomenal successes in the last 400 years, scientists sometimes forget that while mathematics closely simulates the physcial world, it is not a perfect mathc, given our state of knowledge.

   Observation is the true test of theory, and the other critical part of science.  Anything else is an interesting theory, or a "numbers" trick.

  These sorts of reports bore me to tears.

This "boring" report is merely an untested hypothesis by one cosmologist, Professor Laura Mersini-Houghton, and her unnamed colleagues and is certainly not indicative of scientists in general, as some would have us think.

Dave Mitsky

I agree 100% with you Dave Mitsky. Personally I don't think alternate universes exist.

I think there is one in my closet, and it sucks my left socks away. 

 I believe that it is very small minded for scientists, or anyone for that matter, to think or believe that the possibility of an alternate universe is far-fetched.  I mean, no one has really been beyond our own solar system, except for photographs, and we have barely uncovered all of the secrets in this system.  I think that we should all be a little more open-minded to the possibility of an alternate universe.  It could very well exist.

I can not speak for others who replied to this thread, but in my post I said I believed the concept of an alternate universe to be more fiction than fact.  I also said that I do not think we have near enough data yet to make those sorts of assumptions.  When the scientist who made the claim produces the data to prove it then I will have no problem believing.  My mind is open to proof.  Speculation and conjecture are fun, and can plant the seeds of good science, but until there is observation to back up the claim it still remains speculation and conjecture.  And although my disbelief  might make me boring and stubborn, it doesn't make me small minded.

I will ask a question . . .  How many of you believe that the big bang theory is fact? 

Axenilliagenus:

I will ask a question . . .  How many of you believe that the big bang theory is fact? 

There are some very good discussions going on about this exact topic in the "Cosmology" forum right now.  They may be worth checking out.

Multiple universes are fun to think about, or parallel ones.  I mean, who doesn't like Spock with a beard?  But just because some scientist comes up with a hypothesis doesn't mean I have to wholeheartedly agree with it. 

This brings to mind the story of the discovery of the first pulsar.  When scientists first discovered it the regular and constant pulse started some of them to think that perhaps we had discovered the first artificial signal of non terrestrial origin.  They waited until more observation and evidence could be gathered to prove what a pulsar really was instead of coming out with a possible hypothesis that would have been quite embarrasing later on.  Today there seems to be a rush to publish ones findings and conclusions before someone else can do so and steal their thunder.

Time and further study will always tell.

L

Ahhh . . . Spock with a beard.  "It's easier for a civilized man to act like a barbarian than it is for a barbarian to act like a civilized man."  I loved that episode.  Thanks, Leo.

I have to agree with Kevin , simply not enough data to jump to that hypothesis.

Let's not forget that the CMB data is believed to be corrupted, and that it also shows a polarization that is aligned to our system.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050223142939.htm

I remain skeptical of the CMB results as proof of anything at all, or at least until this polarization that has been discovered in the CMB can be fully explained.

As far as the BB theory its the best one we have at the moment which seems to fit the data and observations,  it is only a theory and not a fact.

Dennis

Maybe there are alternate universes, but The Goddess just hasn't chosen to show us them yet.