What if this isn’t the universe, but just one of many?
It’s one of the most serious (and mind-blowing) questions in modern cosmology. The scientific version of the multiverse doesn’t have superheroes… but it does feature many possible realities coexisting, no world-saving required.
But is this for real?
Yes. As sci-fi as it may sound, the concept of the multiverse stems from actual scientific theories. It’s not a Hollywood invention, but an unexpected consequence of trying to understand how our universe works… and what might have come before it all began.
There are several scientific theories that, unintentionally, open the door to the multiverse:
1. Eternal Inflation
Shortly after the Big Bang, the universe didn’t just expand—it exploded outward at a speed so ridiculously fast it would make a 16x video look slow. This phenomenon is known as cosmic inflation: brief but intense, like the ego of a CEO during a TED talk.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
That inflation didn’t happen evenly. It didn’t expand and stop like a neatly choreographed wave. Some regions stopped inflating and stabilized (like our universe), while others kept expanding forever, generating new cosmic “bubbles” every time they locally slowed down.
Yes, each bubble is a full-blown universe, with its own physical laws, fundamental constants, and maybe even different forms of matter, time, or reality. Some might have reverse gravity. Others, a different speed of light. And maybe even one where toast always lands butter side up. (Yes, the toast example again—but it’s a classic.)
In this model, our universe isn’t the universe. It’s just one bubble among billions, still forming in an endlessly expanding multiverse.
2. Many-Worlds Interpretation (Quantum)
Every time a quantum particle “chooses” a state, the universe splits. One version for each possibility. Flip a coin? There’s a universe where it’s heads, and another where you’re annoyed it was tails.
According to this idea, the universe is constantly branching, creating an infinite fractal tree of possibilities. Millions, billions, literally uncountable versions of the cosmos with small (or huge) differences.
3. String Landscape
String theory is one of the boldest attempts to unify all fundamental forces of nature (gravity included) into a single theoretical framework. Instead of point-like particles, it proposes that everything is made of tiny vibrating strings, and the way they vibrate determines whether something is an electron, a photon… or a broccoli.
So far, so elegant. But here’s the twist (or the beauty, depending on how you see it): this theory doesn’t have one solution. It has a landscape of possible solutions—a cosmic menu with more options than there are checkboxes in a tax return.
It’s estimated there are 10^500 possible configurations of universes compatible with the theory. Each with different physical laws, different values for fundamental constants, different numbers of dimensions—even different kinds of particles.
Why does all this matter?
Because it forces us to rethink our place in existence. If multiple universes exist, the question stops being “Why is this universe like this?” and becomes “Why did we get this one, out of countless possibilities?” (Maybe we just drew the short straw.)
Perhaps this universe isn’t the result of a plan—but the cosmic equivalent of pulling a ball at random from a bag with trillions of options. And we just happened to get one with gravity, matter, quantum physics… and people who write “hiiii” in formal emails.
It’s science without a map.
The multiverse hasn’t been proven. There are no telescopes (yet) that can peek outside our universe. But it’s not faith—it’s math and physics stretching their boundaries.
It’s uncomfortable. It’s beautiful. And it’s a reminder that science doesn’t exist to give us answers—but to give us better questions.
So is there another “me” writing this post right now?
Maybe. One with more caffeine (hard to imagine). Another who left it in drafts and went to binge Karen videos. And one who, instead of talking cosmology, started a 74-page Reddit thread debating whether aliens wear socks.
But that’s not the point.
The point is—even if we can never prove those other universes exist… the very fact that our current physics allows for them is enough to keep us up at night.
And not from anxiety—but because you’re picturing your alternate self… a quantum physics influencer recording TikToks from a universe where cats rule the planet. (Actually, Chiquitita—that’s one of my cats—already rules this one.)
Multiverse confirmed. And probably, way more fun than this one.
FAQs
According to the many-worlds interpretation of quantum physics, every decision, every "yes" or "no," creates a fork in the universe. That means yes, there's a "me" out there who probably decided to eat that second slice of pizza while this me tries to diet.
Unlike searching for your lost keys (which you can find under the sofa), detecting other universes is a huge hassle because we don't have "interuniversal telescopes" to observe them. Furthermore, some universes might have such different physical laws that we wouldn't even know what to look for.
Of course! In those parallel universes, Napoleon may have won the battle, or the dinosaurs may have never become extinct and now live with us in futuristic cities. According to the quantum interpretation, every decision and event creates a new "path" in the multiverse tree. So yes, in some universe, there's a version of you who's probably an astronaut, a chef, or even the king/queen of a planet of elves.
