Louisville Process Theology Network

Eternal Inflation

For generations, physicists have imagined a “theory of everything” that would reconcile the mathematical and logical inconsistencies between quantum mechanics and Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Their goal was someday to explain the workings of everything in the universe with a consistent set of laws of nature.

In recent years, however, that goal is increasing thought be unrealistic. Physicist Alan Lightman of MIT says that advances in other areas scientific investigation are leading more and more to the idea of a “multiverse” that contains “different self-contained universes with different properties.”

For example, “string theory” holds that the smallest units of energy are extremely tiny one-dimensional strings that somehow function in other dimensions. It’s believed this string landscape predicts an infinite number of possible universes. Good luck with a theory that unites these universes, Lightman observes.  

Physicists who study “eternal inflation” – a theoretical outcome of the big bang – are beginning to think the “original rapidly expanding universe spawns a multitude of new universes in a never-ending process”, writes Lightman. If universes are created by other universes without end, it seems there would be no need for an “intelligent designer.”

On the other hand, such an abundance of universes also suggests that other universes beyond our perception  also possess conditions for life.

As Lightman points out, the multiverse theory has not won over all physicists. But, it is opening up many new scientific investigations.

From “The Accident Universe: Science’s Crisis of Faith” by Alan Lightman in “Harper’s” last December.