Non-anthropic String Theory Landscape and Finite Universes

[twistor]

What are you thoughts about Laura Mersini Haughton´s theory of the multiverse? She predicted a CMB cold spot, power suppression at low multipoles, preferred direction associated with the quadrupole octupole alignment, dark flow, and the deviation of the CMB amplitude. While dark flow remains controversial, the other predictions have been confirmed.
(See
http://arxiv.org/abs/0809.3623
http://arxiv.org/pdf/0810.5388.pdf
http://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0611223v1.pdf
http://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0612142v1.pdf
for more information)


On the other hand, there are other interesting theories of finite universes. The my favourites are http://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/9901364.pdf
http://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/0310253v1.pdf
http://arxiv.org/pdf/1310.1245.pdf
by Luminet and
http://arxiv.org/pdf/gr-qc/0108043.pdf
http://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/9807206.pdf
http://arxiv.org/pdf/astro-ph/9802021.pdf
by Levin

What are your comments on this?

 

[twistor]

There's also work by kashlinsky out there on dark flow. Is it valid?

 

[bapowell]

Were these predictions or post-dictions?

 

[Chronos]

This is a good example of why we should be cautious when a conjecture yields a prediction that has observational support. It deserves further consideration, but, little more.

 

[twistor]

Were these predictions or post-dictions?

The amazing thing is that they all were PREdictions!

 

[bapowell]

Can you provide references where she predicts these effects?

 

[twistor]

Can you provide references where she predicts these effects?

http://arxiv.org/pdf/0810.5388.pdf
for dark flow

http://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0611223v1.pdf
and
http://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0612142v1.pdf
for other predictions.

There's also a conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAL1-vzMvmA&feature=kp

and a TV program:

 

[bapowell]

But these are all dated after the discovery of the effects. I would consider these post-dictions then.

 

[twistor]

But these are all dated after the discovery of the effects. I would consider these post-dictions then.

http://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-ph/0405218.pdf
and
http://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-th/0410213.pdf
are a bit older, I think.

As far as I know, dark flow was discovered on october 2008. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/pdf/276176main_ApJLetters_20Oct2008.pdf
and the papers of Houghton I'm citing above were written on 2004 and February 2008, that is, BEFORE (there you have at least one PREdiction).
Regarding the spot and the octupoles, I think you're right there.

Anyway, post-dictions, in this case, aren't a reason for paying less attention to the theory. I think this theory deserved much more attention than what it received.

And...

What are your thoughts on Luminet's and Levin's works on closed/finite universes?

 

[bapowell]

Anyway, post-dictions, in this case, aren't a reason for paying less attention to the theory. I think this theory deserved much more attention than what it received.

True, but the theories then are less compelling.

What are your thoughts on Luminet's and Levin's works on closed/finite universes?

I don't have any yet...I will have a look at the references. Thanks!