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

Firstly, I must stress that nobody has carried out this proof experiment. But, it is exceedingly easy to set-up and requires nothing that is beyond the technology of us on Earth. So you might wonder why nobody has done it. It is because there are two major disadvantages of the proof: a) It could be fatal if it fails and b) If it is a success, only one person will be able to know the results.

Here it is: Set up a uranium or plutonium atom connected to a Geiger counter, and a computer that determines whether the Geiger counter has measured the radioactive decay of the atom. If it is detected, then a machine gun fires; otherwise, there is a 'click' sound and the machine gun does not fire (this is similar to the Schroedinger's Cat experiment set-up).

All you have to do is start the machine and stand directly in front of the machine gun without moving. The reason this may prove that parallel universes exist is that the atom, and the computer, is making a quantum decision. This means that all of the possible outcomes of the decision are played out in a parallel universe. So in one universe, you are dead, and in another you are alive.

But wait, you would only ever be able to experience the universes in which you were alive, which means that whatever happens, you must experience survival of the experiment. It would mean that in the universe you started in, people would eventually see you drop dead. However, you would have entered a parallel universe where you are alive and well, and the process would repeat. After thousands upon thousands of times using the machine you would never die, thus proving you have entered parallel universes.

So if parallel universes don't exist, then you would die.

If they do, you'd be the only who knew.

very interesting. but theres still something i need to know. I know that each possibility is played out in a parallel universe, but how do you get there? how does get your mind from one universe to the other? this is similiar to quantum computing, how does the imfo get back to us if its played in parallel universes?

This is how: The universes exist in parallel don't they? They are parallel in a higher dimension. That means that every point in space-time is touching the 'boundary' of another parallel universe. When you move universes, you don't notice because they're right next to each other. I think that's right.

You can get to parallel universes, also, by doing some very nifty aerobatics in a black hole. The nearest suitable supermassive black hole is at the centre of the galaxy. What are we waiting for?

you said that you will keep going into another prarallel universe and having the same thing with the gun going off, why do you go into another? doesnt it just get played out in a parallel universe on the parallel you?

You go into another because it's the only one that you can experience. You would be dead in the original one.

so what happens to the you that was in the universe that you move into?

There is no 'you' in the parallel universe that you move into, because the parallel universe you move into is newly created, and you - the original you - is the you that will inhabit it.

To put it in simple terms:
Gun fires > Parallel universe created > You move into it > Original you dies.

Although to be precise, the parallel universe already exists. In fact, all parallel universes must exist now and must have always existed because of relativity. This poses serious deterministic implications, I suppose.

http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/quantum/quantum.jsp?id=23390700 i thought you might like that, there is a lot of other articles you will find interesting, well im off to bed. cya