The multiverse, as Doctor Strange puts it, is a concept that we know frighteningly little about. The thought of there being multiple universes existing in tandem with our reality can be overwhelming to fathom, which is perhaps why the prevailing belief among logical thinkers is that such a concept is nothing more than just a fantasy.
But could there be scientific evidence that a multiverse like the one Doctor Strange opened actually exists in reality? A handful of physicists has explored this question. While the majority of them have dismissed the multiverse concept as science fiction, others remain open to the possibility that it could actually exist.
Dr. Kinjalk Lochan, the Assistant Professor of Physics at IISER Mohali, specializes in the fields of black holes, general relativity, and early universe. He recently spoke to Indian Express regarding the multiverse concept and its feasibility, explaining that while finding tangible proof of a multiverse is seemingly impossible, advancements in the field of quantum physics have made it 'unimaginably difficult' to completely rule out the possibility of its existence. Lochan explains this point with a real-life example.
Novel experiments have shown that an electron, at the microscopic level, may simultaneously exist in multiple realities. This led some physicists to theorize that when the universe was born, it began as a microscopic entity, just like an electron. If so, there could have been a lot more than just one possible reality to co-exist in. However, it would be rather difficult to explain why our current reality ended up being the one that prevailed, as well as what happened to the other possible realities.
Lochan also referred to the Copernican principle and string theory to further explain his thinking. The Copernican principle suggests that humans, on Earth or in the solar system, do not occupy a 'special' place in the universe. String theory expands on this idea. In order to prove that the universe we currently live in is not 'special,' there must exist a number of other universes for comparison. These, in theory, would start to look homogenous with one another at larger and larger scales.
All of this is incredibly complex, and it can be very difficult to make sense of, so it may be for the better that the multiverse remains a Hollywood fabrication. Marvel Studios will be taking its own multiverse concept in an epic direction with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which will see Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange team up with Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch to restore a world that is falling apart at the seams.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is scheduled for theatrical release on May 6, 2022.
Source: Indian Express