Ask Ethan: Have We Finally Found Evidence For A Parallel Universe?

In Antarctica, some exciting scientific developments are underway, accompanied by some bold assertions. What is the reality behind these claims?

For many, the notion of parallel Universes ignites our imagination. If alternate Universes exist where critical moments resulted in different choices—where a single pivotal decision was altered—might there be a way to access these realities? Could it be possible for particles, fields, or even individuals to traverse from one Universe to another, allowing us to inhabit a reality that may be preferable to our own? These concepts resonate within theoretical physics, arising from the diverse outcomes of quantum mechanics and theories of the multiverse. However, do they have any correlation with observable phenomena? Recently, a claim emerged suggesting that evidence for parallel Universes has been uncovered, prompting Jordan Colby Cox to inquire about its validity, asking:

> "There is an article circulating that states physicists in Antarctica have discovered evidence for a parallel universe. I find this highly unlikely, but I wanted to confirm by asking you to evaluate the truth of the story."

Let’s delve into this matter and clarify.

From a physics standpoint, the concept of parallel Universes is captivating yet challenging to verify. It originated within the realm of quantum physics, known for its unpredictable results, even when the system setup is entirely known. For instance, when an electron is directed through a double slit, we can only determine the probabilities of its landing position, not the exact outcome.

One intriguing theory, called the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, suggests that all possible outcomes actually occur, but each Universe witnesses only one outcome. This theory necessitates an infinite number of parallel Universes to accommodate all possibilities, yet it holds equal validity as other interpretations without any experiments or observations disproving it.

Parallel Universes also emerge in discussions surrounding the multiverse concept. Our observable Universe began with the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago, but this event wasn’t the absolute beginning. Prior to the Big Bang, a distinct phase of the Universe, known as cosmological inflation, occurred. The conclusion of inflation leads to the Big Bang.

However, inflation does not cease uniformly; areas where it continues to inflate can produce additional Big Bangs. Once initiated, inflation is practically impossible to halt entirely, resulting in numerous independent Universes forming—a multiverse.

The fundamental challenge for both these theories is the lack of testability regarding the existence of parallel Universes. If we are confined to our own Universe, how can we ever hope to access another? Our laws of physics, along with numerous conserved quantities, govern our reality.

Particles cannot simply materialize, vanish, or alter their form; they must interact with other matter and energy. The outcomes of such interactions adhere to the established laws of physics.

In all our experiments, observations, and measurements, we have yet to find any interaction that necessitates the existence of something beyond our isolated Universe.

However, recent headlines claim that scientists in Antarctica have found proof of parallel Universes. If validated, this would be groundbreaking—a bold assertion indicating that our understanding of the Universe is insufficient and that there remains much to learn beyond our current knowledge.

Not only would these alternate Universes exist, but matter and energy from them might also interact with our own Universe. If this assertion were correct, it could open avenues to scenarios that seem straight out of science fiction. Imagine traveling to a Universe:

• Where you made a different career choice abroad instead of staying home?
• Where you confronted the bully instead of succumbing to intimidation?
• Where you kissed the one who got away instead of letting them slip by?
• Or where a life-altering event faced by you or a loved one unfolded differently in the past?

So, what exactly was the remarkable evidence that purportedly indicates the existence of a parallel Universe? What observation or measurement led to this extraordinary conclusion?

The ANITA (ANtarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna) experiment—a balloon-based project sensitive to radio waves—detected radio signals of specific energies and trajectories originating from beneath the Antarctic ice. This is a positive outcome, as it aligns with the experiment's objectives! In both theory and practice, numerous cosmic particles traverse space, including elusive neutrinos. Many neutrinos originate from the Sun, stars, or the Big Bang, while others stem from highly energetic astrophysical phenomena like pulsars, black holes, or even unidentified cosmic entities.

These neutrinos come with varying energy levels, with the most energetic ones being rare and, to many physicists, particularly intriguing. Neutrinos are mostly undetectable by ordinary matter—it would take about a light-year of lead to have a 50/50 chance of stopping one—so they can originate from any direction.

Nevertheless, most high-energy neutrinos detected are not generated from distant sources; instead, they arise when other cosmic particles of extreme energies collide with the upper atmosphere, generating cascades of particles that also yield neutrinos. Some of these neutrinos can pass through the Earth, only interacting with the outer layers of the planet’s crust or ice, where they create signals detectable by our instruments.

The rare occurrences that ANITA observed seemed consistent with a neutrino emerging from the Earth and producing radio signals, but at energy levels so high that traversing the Earth unimpeded should not be feasible.

How many such events did they record? Three.

Could they have traversed through the Earth? No. The first two may have been typical air-shower tau neutrinos, while the third likely stemmed from experimental background noise.

In fact, a compelling piece of evidence suggests these neutrinos did not come from below the Earth: the IceCube neutrino detector exists, and if high-energy tau neutrinos routinely passed through the Earth (and Antarctic ice), IceCube would have undoubtedly detected a signal. They have, however, not done so.

Scientifically, this indicates that:

• ANITA detected radio signals it could not explain.
• Their leading hypothesis was that high-energy tau neutrinos were moving upwards through the Earth.
• This hypothesis was refuted by IceCube's findings.
• This means there is no known astrophysical source for the particles that ANITA indirectly observed.

Where, then, do parallel Universes fit into this discussion?

The ANITA experiment yielded three potential explanations for the observed signals: either there exists an astrophysical source for these particles, there’s a flaw in their detector or interpretation, or something extraordinary and beyond the Standard Model (known as CPT violation) is occurring. Solid scientific evidence has already dismissed the first option, suggesting it is nearly certain to be the second. As for the third possibility, if our Universe cannot violate CPT, could this be an indication from a parallel Universe where CPT is inverted? This explanation, however, is as unlikely as it is poorly substantiated.

It is crucial to remember that in science, we must exhaust all conventional explanations that do not involve new physics before considering a groundbreaking hypothesis. Over the past decade, numerous extraordinary claims have been shown to disintegrate under scrutiny. Neutrinos have not been found to travel faster than light; we have yet to discover dark matter or sterile neutrinos; cold fusion remains unproven; and claims of a "reactionless engine" have failed.

This scenario illustrates a commendable story centered around solid scientific inquiry. The ANITA experiment observed something unexpected and reported its findings. A more precise experiment, IceCube, subsequently followed up and disproved the leading interpretation, strongly suggesting that something is amiss with the initial experiment. Further scientific exploration will illuminate what is genuinely occurring. For now, based on the evidence at hand, the concept of parallel Universes must remain a fascinating notion confined to the realm of science fiction.

Send in your Ask Ethan questions to startswithabang at gmail dot com!

Starts With A Bang is now featured on Forbes and is republished on Medium with a 7-day delay. Ethan has authored two books, Beyond The Galaxy, and Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive.