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If you can observe something, it is part of the universe.

I think of it as: anyplace that a photon could travel to in the normal way that photons travel would be part of our universe.

People have posited the existence of other universes. It would require some unknown method of travel to go from one universe to another. The collection of all universes can be called the Multiverse.

I recently saw, in a comic, the idea that there could then be multiple Multiverses. That doesn't make sense to me any more than the idea of multiple Internets.

I read a web comic called Unicorn Jelly that really gave me some food for thought. How could you visit another universe where the physical laws are different? Only two ways: either you would have to travel in a little bubble where your usual physical laws apply somehow, or else you would have to be translated into the new universe. The Universe of Unicorn Jelly isn't made out of atoms, it's made out of "tratoms", and in order to visit you would have to have your body translated into tratoms. In principle there could be an infinite number of universes with different physical laws, and only in a tiny fraction of them would people survive the translation necessary to enter a universe. Luckily the universe of Unicorn Jelly is one where people can survive, or else there wouldn't have been a comic.

P.S. Unicorn Jelly, in the beginning, seems like a slightly silly and harmless story. It's a bigger story than it first appears, and I don't want to spoil it, but I will say that it is a story that could only be told in the universe in which it is set. The very nature of the Universe of the story drives the plot! So, the story of Unicorn Jelly meets my personal standard for science fiction: the story wouldn't be the same if you took away the science (fictional science, here).

P.P.S. If you like Unicorn Jelly and want more multiversal craziness from the same author, the follow-on story To Save Her is kinda set in the same universe. I mean, it's actually set in an infinite number of variations of the same universe, and features a somewhat infinite cast of characters, but we follow along a half-dozen or so through their story arc, as they visit about a half-dozen alternate universes. (They only visit alternates of their own universe, where the physical laws are the same.)

If you enjoy reading a fictional story set in a universe with completely different physical laws, I recommend a web comic called Unicorn Jelly. The creator of the comic has a bad reputation in some parts of the Internet, but never mind that because the comic is worth reading.

In this universe, there is no force of gravity; instead there is a force called "linovection" that pulls things in a single direction. In other words, there is an objective "up" and "down" in this universe.

Also, the mass of objects affects how strongly linovection pulls on them, so fine dust can float in the air, but normal everyday-sized objects fall like we expect. But there are "world plates" that remain locked in a lattice-like formation because of another force that applies on that scale.

In this universe, things are not even made out of atoms; they are made out of "tratons". So to even visit this universe you must undergo a nontrivial change...

Finally, it is explicitly a closed universe of finite size, which has important implications on the plot. It starts off looking like some sort of harmless silly anime-inspired comic, but big things happen after a while. The story has a definite beginning, middle, and end; and it is complete.

http://unicornjelly.com/

It is by far the best of the comics by Jennifer Diane Reitz. If you like it, you might try reading some of her other stuff (like the follow-on project "To Save Her"). If you don't like Unicorn Jelly, then don't even bother with looking at her other stuff.

My favorites:

http://www.unicornjelly.com/
http://cheston.com/pbf/archive.html
http://www.project-apollo.net/mos/mos000.html

Don't forget about Sexy Losers (DNSFW)

Sorry, I'll always think of it as "The Thin H Line". But I agree, one of the best out there. Oddly, I consider the total NSFW-ness of it almost irrelevant to the humor, but not gratuitous fan-service (Hmm, that sounds like a contradiction, but I stand by it).

But since this seems to have devolved into a "my favorite webcomics" listing, I might as well plug my personal favorite...

Unicorn Jelly, by Jennifer Diane Reitz (You might recognize the name from the credits (design) of a number of EA, Epyx, Interplay, and other old-school games). The story has sadly finished, and you should only read this one from the beginning, but well worth a few hours of your life.

Initially about a rebellious young witch (think " LeGuin's Disposessed applied to Wicca" rather than Wendy or Sabrina), it evolves into a tale of rationality applied to a superstitious world facing an unavoidable cataclysm... With a hint of Abbott's "Flatland" thrown in for spice. One of its most fascinating points (to me, anyway) - Although you need suspension of disbelief to allow the strip's universe to exist in the first place, once you accept that, you won't find many points to nitpick about. The strip's world has distinctly different physical rules than our world, yet remains internally consistent to the point that the author has worked out actual laws of physics and entire ecosystems suited to those laws.

This comic really has me hooked at the moment:

Unicorn Jelly

The comic is best described as a science-fiction/fantasy story, but that hardly scratches the surface of the alien physics that run the world, the believeable, well-fleshed out characters, and the just plain entertaining plot. Not to mention that it's drawn in a light-hearted, anime-influenced style. The fact that it is really obscure should also appeal to the average slashdotter. :) Read from the first strip, read the accompanying "Alternate Universe" strips, and I assure you that you will not be disappointed.

http://unicornjelly.com/alt49.html

Unicorn Jelly is great. It's great in strange ways.

Personally, I don't like any single feature of it (except, perhaps, Taasen, the chess-like spinoff game, which is unequivocally awesome). I don't like the cutesy otaku in-jokes, I don't like the oddball fractal universe, I don't like the monochrome art, I don't like the gay adventurers, I don't like the distasteful origin of the main character, etc. But somehow the whole of it just works and is entertaining.

I can't explain it, I just enjoy it. It's definitely worth a look.

I should have included this with the last email... These are awesome links.

First, some from electric sheep, a very socially conscious, interesting, and humerous collection of comics.

• The Guy I Almost Was - everyone who works with technology and OpenSource/Free Software should read this, to get a sense of how some of our idealistic roots came.
• Rush Limbaugh Eats Everything - Rush Limbaugh does Reality shows, and decides to eat... The LAST Spotted Owl.
• The Jain's Death - An insightful and beautiful story on a Jain's lives.
• Overheard at a Rave - A cute story about a daughter who takes her father to a rave with her.

Here are two Scott McCloud links. Scott McClouds greatest works, unfortunately, are not online: Understanding Comics, and Reinventing Comics. Get them at a comic store near you, or at BarnesAndNoble.com. Here's some of his online work, which are of exceptional quality:

• I Can't Stop Thinking! A meta-comic, also by Scott McCloud. Very interesting ideas are expressed here.
• Scott McCloud's "Hearts And Minds" - not my favorite online comic, but a good taste of Scott McCloud's web form, doing things that could *NEVER* have been done in print. (Such as the falling scene in Week 3.)

Finally, Unicorn Jelly, for those who love science, mathematics, and anime. Be sure to check out the alternative time lines, and the powers of ten map of the universe of tryslmaistan.

I should have included this with the last email... These are awesome links.

First, some from electric sheep, a very socially conscious, interesting, and humerous collection of comics.

• The Guy I Almost Was - everyone who works with technology and OpenSource/Free Software should read this, to get a sense of how some of our idealistic roots came.
• Rush Limbaugh Eats Everything - Rush Limbaugh does Reality shows, and decides to eat... The LAST Spotted Owl.
• The Jain's Death - An insightful and beautiful story on a Jain's lives.
• Overheard at a Rave - A cute story about a daughter who takes her father to a rave with her.

Here are two Scott McCloud links. Scott McClouds greatest works, unfortunately, are not online: Understanding Comics, and Reinventing Comics. Get them at a comic store near you, or at BarnesAndNoble.com. Here's some of his online work, which are of exceptional quality:

• I Can't Stop Thinking! A meta-comic, also by Scott McCloud. Very interesting ideas are expressed here.
• Scott McCloud's "Hearts And Minds" - not my favorite online comic, but a good taste of Scott McCloud's web form, doing things that could *NEVER* have been done in print. (Such as the falling scene in Week 3.)

Finally, Unicorn Jelly, for those who love science, mathematics, and anime. Be sure to check out the alternative time lines, and the powers of ten map of the universe of tryslmaistan.