If there are an infinite number of universes.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of infinite universes and the speculative nature of their properties, particularly focusing on the existence of planets made of unconventional materials like Swiss cheese and Mozzarella. The conversation touches on string theory and the vast number of its versions, exploring the implications of these theories on the nature of reality.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants humorously suggest the existence of planets made of Swiss cheese or Mozzarella in various universes.
  • One participant notes that at least one version of string theory requires planets made of Mozzarella, referring to it as "string cheese."
  • A participant expresses a philosophical view on the uniqueness of our universe, suggesting that any dynamic universe design ultimately leads to our reality.
  • Another participant inquires about the reasoning behind the estimated number of different versions of string theory, which is cited as being around 10,500.
  • A later reply explains that the number of "de Sitter" vacua corresponds to different versions of physics, emphasizing the complexity of extra dimensions in string theory and how they contribute to this multiplicity.
  • There is mention of a trend among researchers shifting focus away from theories requiring many extra dimensions due to the challenges posed by the multiplicity of vacuums.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of humor and serious inquiry, with no consensus on the existence of specific types of planets or the implications of string theory. The discussion remains open-ended with various speculative ideas presented.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes speculative claims about the nature of universes and the properties of string theory, with references to evolving estimates of the number of string theory versions. The complexity of extra dimensions and their implications for physics are noted but not resolved.

Richard87
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Do some of them have planets made out of swiss cheese?
 
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I believe that at least one of the 10500 different versions of string theory requires the existence of planets made out of Mozzarella.

But I did not hear of Swiss cheese planets.
Mozzarella is known as "string cheese" so it constitutes an exception.
 
marcus said:
I believe that at least one of the 10500 different versions of string theory requires the existence of planets made out of Mozzarella.

But I did not hear of Swiss cheese planets.
Mozzarella is known as "string cheese" so it constitutes an exception.

:smile::smile::smile:
 
Mozzarella is known as "string cheese" so it constitutes an exception

Priceless...
 
Our reality is the bizzarest of the bizzarest of the bizzare. ANY design of a universe that is dynamic leads to the only one that is ours. Take a line, subdivide it, and through random lines on it (the only thing you could do), the position of the lines are your positions of the particles, the lines are the energy. The smallest few subdivisions represent a quark (what a nice name). Try to come up with any other trick you end up with the first. Bizzare.

A man living in the neighborhood
trying to do what he could
thinking of doing what he should
only to end up with the would
 
marcus said:
I believe that at least one of the 10500 different versions of string theory requires the existence of planets made out of Mozzarella.

But I did not hear of Swiss cheese planets.
Mozzarella is known as "string cheese" so it constitutes an exception.

Can you explain how they get so many versions? 10500 that's insane.

thanks.
 
This refers to the number of "de Sitter" vacua, in lay terms the number of "different versions of physics", and the estimate has been growing. As of 2003 the estimate was at least 10250. Then for the past few years we have been mostly hearing 10500 and lately I hear it's probably more like 101000.

The prime source on this is the top-cited paper here:
http://www.slac.stanford.edu/spires/find/hep/www?rawcmd=FIND+DK+STRING+MODEL+AND+DATE+%3E+2002+AND+TOPCITE+500%2B&FORMAT=www&SEQUENCE=citecount%28d%29

This was the paper in 2003 that originally brought out the 10250 number. Judging by how often it has been cited as a reference in other string research it is the most important string paper that has come out in the last eight years. Between when it came out in 2003 and the present it has been cited 1336 times.

The simple intuitive reason there are so many different versions of empty space (each giving a different version of physics) is that in string theories there are a lot of extra dimensions that have to be rolled up.

And that means there are a lot of different possible ways to roll them up, which first? in which order?, and which inside which? There are also different ways to wrap them so that they will be stable.

These different ways of doing up the extra dimensions lead to string theories with differerent versions of empty space and therefore different versions of physics (forces, particles), with no logical or mathematical principle that makes anyone particular version stand out.

A number of the top people have been shifting their research interest to topics that do not require a lot of extra dimensions, and don't face this problem of the multiplicity of vacuums. It's an interesting trend to watch.
 
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thanks for that.
 

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