This book, by one of the most lucid writers of popular science, is not an easy read. Its central idea is that our Universe is one of many. Though others have suggested this, including the 16th-century philosopher Giordano Bruno, it wasn’t until 1957 that Hugh Everett placed it on a sound mathematical basis with his paper on ‘Many Worlds’ (also called “parallel universes”).
The first chapter discusses quantum theory and the problems of its interpretation, and shows that Everett’s idea is a valid alternative to the Copenhagen Interpretation, the standard viewpoint.
He then looks at what he calls “cosmic coincidences”, the weird collection of physical data whose (seemingly arbitrary) values make our Universe – and life – possible. The Many Worlds idea resolves the paradox that “there is something odd about the laws of nature that make our universe a suitable home for life”. To show that this is not just mathematical dreaming, he explains the mind-blowing concepts behind quantum computers that provide the best reason for taking the Many Worlds theory seriously. Some of their calculations take place in parallel universes – and they can produce answers to questions asked by an operator in another universe!
Despite their unreliability, quantum computers offer the possibility of quickly factorising extremely large numbers. This process is at the heart of the encryption codes that are so essential to our modern world – they keep credit card data secure and are vital for the military. Simple quantum computers have already been built!
Gribbin’s explanations of cosmology, the Big Bang and the idea of inflation which is needed to reconcile the theory with observable data are amongst the best I’ve read. He strikes a balance between giving a flavour of the ideas and getting bogged down in detail.
String theory is also covered, along with black holes and the notion that our Universe is just a computer simulation (as in The Matrix). He rejects this idea in favour of our Universe being an artificial construct… made by intelligent beings in another universe!
The author provides a helpful glossary and a useful index to assist those who make the journey, and a bibliography which includes science fiction. If you want to get a handle on the way-out theories of modern physics and cosmology, this is a good place to start.
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