h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Great article. Nice read.
Just one point though: From what I have been taught in my quantum mechanics course I seem to remember that yes there are some physicists that believe the multiple world theory but not that many, and it is generally frowned upon by most of the renowned physicists. There were some reasons why the multiple world theory wasn't possible (or plausible) but I can't remember them. Will look it up though...

One reason could already be the huge amount of worlds nescesary(just count all the atoms, the all have quantum effects all the time...) And altough they might be infinitely thin, this doesn't automatically mean that an infinite number of them will also be infinitely thin (just think mathematics: a line is just a collection of infinitly thin point, but still has a length...). But this is just a hunch.

Rod

In relation to the multiple world theory, it may be possible if you beleive that things can happen or could have happened differently. However, one theory states that most things that happen in the universe happen as a result of the circumasances (cosality, cause and effect) and could not have happened any other way.

For example if you flick a coin, before you flick it there is a 50/50 chance that it will land on either heads or tails, but when you flick the coin the power with which you flicked it, the air currents around the coin while it is in the air, the distance from the floor/surface it lands on and when it is flicked the time in the air will all affect the outcome of the flick.

The circumstances will determine the outcome and there is no other way that it can happen. there is no possibility that it could have happened another way.

This is only a theory and although i do see the point of it i am not entirely happy about it. The 'His Dark Materials' trilogy (great read by the way, lots of sciency and anti- religious stuff) is based on the many worlds theory and i would hate to think that i am going against what it says because i agree with most of the other stuff in it.

(if this is anything like what you learnt in your quantum mechanics course about why most physicists do not support the many worlds theory, Rod, then let me know. cheers)

sometimes i think lght traveling the distance is time

In the early days, I believe the many worlds theory was ridiculed - just look at Giordano Bruno. But nowadays I am quite sure that physicists keep an open mind. David Deutsch is a very respected Oxford University physicist who has worked on the many worlds interpretation; most string theorists study it; it is popularised in a great many scientific books; and I am sure I read somewhere that the percentage of physicists keeping an open mind is very high.

Science fiction is turning into science fact, and most major physicists realise this.

it can be very difficult to define between science fiction and science fact sometimes. although there are 2 main differences.

1. science fiction (normally) tends to have more outrageously riddiculous names for things (e.g. startibardfast)
2. science fiction is funnier, but only when it is presented ala the Hitch-Hiker's Guide style.

despite this science fiction and science fact can be equally unbelievable.