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Escape from the Universe
rleyton writes "Prospect Magazine is carrying an excellent article "Escape from the Universe": The universe is destined to end. Before it does, could an advanced civilisation escape via a "wormhole" into a parallel universe? The idea seems like science fiction, but it is consistent with the laws of physics and biology. Here's how to do it."
...have obviously never seen 'Sliders' .... otherwise they'd know better.
Windows in 6 Bytes (IA-32) : 90 90 90 90 CD 19
... wouldnt a parallel universe be frozen too?
always mosh clockwise
With my luck, the parallel universe that I escaped into would be even closer to ending than this one...
Haven't even loaded TFA yet, but the idea sounds VERY similar to the premise of Stephen Baxter's book "Ring"......
an excellent read if you get the chance.
Couldn't we wait a few billions of years before we start consider this question seriously?
Karma: Excellent (My Karma? I wish...:-( )
This was one of my biggest concerns! I mean, the universe could end tomorrow, and we'd be completely unprepared! I am so incredibly important that I must escape via a wormhole before the universe ends, so I may help... other such people... uh... get back to me.
what if the parallel universe you pop out through the wormhole into is made completely of antimatter.
I think Prospect Magazine's web server just escaped into another universe.
The universe is destined to end. Before it does, could an advanced civilisation escape via a "wormhole" into a parallel universe?
No. Anything that is reacheable from our universe is, by definition, part of the universe. The concept of "escape" has no meaning in this context.
2: Suck up thousands of galaxies into a toroidal naked singularity
3: Avoid any pesky humans throwing relativistic neutron stars around the universe
4: Hold off neutrino birds at all costs
5: Escape universe
Potential hazards: physical constants of new universe may not be what you expected. Beware of ultra-high gravity.
Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
"Escape from the Universe" commented on by people who haven't figured out how to escape their parent's basements.
Not Egan's best (though it does include the brilliant "Wang's Carpets"), but worth reading.
- Crow T. Trollbot
The idea seems like science fiction, but it is consistent with the laws of physics and biology. Here's how to do it.
The short answer: Find worm hole. Jump into said wormhole. Escape universe. I mean, this is pretty basic stuff here.
---gralem
... people are starving. Great people spend time thinking of current problems.
This is the third universe and things are definitely going downhill. Why, back in the day you never had stars spew their guts all over space and call it a "supernova." If they did they had the courtesy to clean up after themselves.
And don't get me started on those noisy pulsars or horrid black holes! I can't think of anything that sucks as much as black holes!
For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. -- H L Mencken
What's the point in theorizing about escaping the Universe when it expires, when we haven't even set up a permanent base outside Earth orbit??? Might be fun to think about but that's about it.
There will be cataclysms on Earth, and in our solar system long before, which we need to avoid. Hell we don't even have a decent early warning system for large meteors, let alone a workable action plan against being wiped out by one.
This isn't like trying to fly before you can walk. This is more like sperm in a testicle trying to plan for when it becomes an Olympic athelete!
These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
..Last Post?
Weeks of coding saves hours of planning.
If there are an infintie number of parallel universes, why aren't there an infinite number of wormholes opening all over the place in our universe?
The idea seems like science fiction, but it is consistent with the laws of physics and biology. Here's how to do it."
I'll wait until "Escaping your Universe for Dummies" comes out... that's always easy to read.
When the universe explodes for my pleasure, I want to be downing Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters.
500GB of disk, 5TB of transfer, $5.95/mo
The Author, Michio Kaku, also had essentially the exact same article in the December issue of Discover. The article is right here. Very interesting read, but the engineer in me makes me laugh at the sheer impracticality if the possible methods.
www.owlsden.com/moroha
Quote:
(Emphasis mine)
"is consistant with the laws of physics and biology."
What pray tell are the "laws of biology" and how do they have ANYTHING to do with wormholes?
Imagine a circle infinitely large.
Now cut it in half, cut one of its halfs in half, and cut one of those quarters in half.
How big are the smallest two sections you have? Infinitly big. Or, to be precise, 1/8 infinity.
Similar math is what keeps wormholes from happening all over the place. With infinite space then, yes, we would have an infinite number of wormholes. But their ratio wouldn't necessarily change from the effect if we had, oh, a finite space.
As you can see, it's not easy to come to agreement about what the term "our universe" actually means. A term this broad invites all manner of semantic arguments
Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
Before it does, could an advanced civilisation escape via a "wormhole" into a parallel universe?
...
Now why would I want to do that? With my luck, I'd wind up in a universe where we had President George W. Bush, instead of Al Gore beginning his second term.
Yeesh. What a terrifying concept
I'd take notes, but with my luck there would be very little chance that I'd be able to find them again in 10 billion years when I need them.
I haven't read the article, but (assuming infinite expansion) presumably the issue with the universe ending is with everything approaching entropy. In other words, we lose accessible energy. If we can escape to another universe, who's to say we can't steal some other universe's energy to keep our own universe kicking. It's Mega Maid!!! She's gone from suck to blow! (or vice versa in this case).
I'm afraid I've grown rather attached to this universe.
Though the wormhole route is explored most engagingly in Greg Egan's Diaspora, I prefer the Total Perspective Vortex in H2G2.
--
make install -not war
But at the rate we're going we'll be extinct in a century or so. We have to work on this problem now, while we're still around!
We will definately not be still alive by the time the universe ends.
Did Netcraft confirm that?
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...and then there are some who believe this has already happened....
It's nothing but crumpled porno and Ayn Rand.
Many geeks are aware of the fact that their parent's basements will not last forever. While many say this is both far off and inevitable and thus not worth worrying about, a growing number of geek researchers are treating the issue seriously, and turning to advanced physics for a solution.
Under some theories, there is not just one parent's basement, but in fact many basements. In this "multi-basement" view, it would even be possible to travel from one basement to another.
The theory states that up the stairs and through the kitchen there are portals that lead to a realm given the mysterious sounding name of "Outside". And indeed, it is mysterious.
"We know virtually nothing about 'Outside'," said a prominent geek theorist whose name I'm too lazy to make up. "The theory states that one could travel through 'Outside' to any other place in the known basements, but we aren't sure how that is possible. Certainly it would be a place of astounding energy. While still purely theory, one of my colleagues sent me an IM claiming that he actually saw this energy shining through the windows of the kitchen when he went upstairs to get lunch."
While agreeing with the general theory, several researchers say that Outside provides no hope to the geek facing the destruction of his basement. The incredible energy of Outside, they say, would fry a geek in an instant. One said clearly fabricated claims that some geeks had already travelled Outside and returned was proof that the theory was the realm of crackpots.
"There are certainly difficulties involved in traveling Outside," said that same geek from before, "but we've found nothing insurmountable as of yet. I've calculated that the energy of Outside waxes and wanes in approximately twelve hour cycles and travel would be possible during the low portion of the cycle. Frankly, I think these theoretical problems will be overcome. I'd be much more concerned about the practical implications of traveling to other basements, such as: if there are no parents in these new basements, who will pay rent and fill the fridge? What if there is no Chinese or pizza delivery? These are the issues engineers will have to face as they travel to new worlds beyond the kitchen."
While all geeks we spoke with admitted that it is far too early to draw any conclusions, many said that this new field of research should give geeks everywhere hope.
The enemies of Democracy are
Does IPv6 have a large enough adress space for the parallel universes? Will I be able to escape and still browse Slashdot? Will I be able to grab the last of my Torrents off my server before the universe collapses?
I just read the whole article. Wow man! That's some heavy shit. By the way, would somebody pass the bong?
How ya like dat?
If you're an SF fan, FWIW, this recommendation is from an owner of a SF-specialized literary agency and the son of a SF writer popular from the 50's... 70's or so. If the idea of creation-spanning is interesting to you, then read this book; you are very unlikely to regret it.
The social mileau in the book will feel a trifle dated; the science won't.
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.