9781784709341

insights into the majestic world of a quantum multiverse’ Stephon Alexander, author of Fear of a Black Universe

‘What if our universe is but an infinitesimal fragment of reality? What would this “multiverse” be like? There is no better guide to the bizarre and sometimes paradoxical cosmic super-realm than Laura Mersini-Houghton’ Paul Davies, author of What’s Eating the Universe?

In Before the Big Bang, Laura Mersini-Houghton explains her breakthrough theory and its stunning vindication, which have turned the multiverse into one of the most compelling and credible explanations of our universe’s origins. In the process, she describes how her unconventional path from communist Albania to the West helped her become one of the most courageous thinkers in theoretical physics.

‘Fascinating and unusual...vivid and good-humoured, and much enlivened by tableaux from her education in Albania’ Daily Telegraph Books of the Year

‘A riveting tour of the cosmos from one of the brightest minds in astrophysics’ Washington Post Jacket design Grace Han. Author photograph

by Danny Williams Cover design bybyMatt Broughton using photographs © Getty Images

Laura MersiniOur Origins Before the Big Bang in the Multiverse Houghton

‘One of the world’s most renowned cosmologists offers

‘Riveting’ Washington Post

‘Fascinating’ Roger Penrose

VINTAGE I S B N 978-1-784-70934-1 £10.99

Penguin Random House penguin.co.uk/vintage 9

90000 781784 709341

RAN5_NP_01BeforetheBigBangPB_OUT_86498.pgs 05.09.2023 12:30

RAN5

LAURA MERSINI-HOUGHTON Laura Mersini-Houghton is an internationally renowned cosmologist and theoretical physicist and one of the world’s leading experts on the multi­ verse and the origins of the universe. Born in Albania when it was still under a communist ­dictatorship, she was awarded a Fulbright scholar­ ship to study in the United States and is now a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a visiting professor at several universities around the world, including the University of Cambridge. She has been the subject of hundreds of articles in leading popular science magazines and has appeared in documentaries on the Science Channel, Discovery Channel and the BBC.

LAURA MERSINI-HOUGHTON

Before the Big Bang Our Origins in the Multiverse

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 Vintage is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com

First published in Vintage in 2023 First published in hardback by The Bodley Head in 2022 Copyright © Laura Mersini-Houghton 2022 Laura Mersini-Houghton has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 penguin.co.uk/vintage Printed and bound in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, Elcograf S.p.A. The authorised representative in the EEA is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin D02 YH68 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 9781784709341 Penguin Random House is committed to a sustainable future for our business, our readers and our planet. This book is made from Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper.

To my daughter, Grace, and to my dad

TheThe gates gates of hell of hell are are open open night night andand day;day; Smooth Smooth thethe descent, descent, andand easyeasy is the is the way: way: ButBut to return, to return, andand view view thethe cheerful cheerful skies, skies, In this In this thethe tasktask andand mighty mighty labor labor lies.lies.

—Virgil, —Virgil, TheThe Aeneid Aeneid

Contents Contents

Prologue: Prologue: MyMy Albanian Albanian Universe Universexi xi 1. Is 1. Our Is Our Universe Universe Special?

Special?1 1 2. How 2. How DidDid OurOur Universe Universe Start?

Start?17 17 3. A 3. Quantum A Quantum Leap Leap35 35 4. Fine-Tuning 4. Fine-Tuning61 61 5. Are 5. Are WeWe Alone?

Alone?79 79 6. Eleven 6. Eleven Dimensions Dimensions95 95 7. First 7. First Wave Wave113113 8. Into 8. Into thethe Multiverse Multiverse125125 9. The 9. The Origin Origin of Our of Our Universe Universe139139 10. 10.

Fingerprints Fingerprints of Other of Other Universes Universes171171 11. 11.

InfiInfi nitynity andand Eternity Eternity183183

Epilogue: Epilogue: A Place A Place to Dream to Dream193193 Acknowledgments Acknowledgments207207 Index Index210210

Prologue: Prologue: MyMy Albanian Albanian Universe Universe

AA

lbania, lbania, thethe land land of of mymy birth, birth, is aisbeautiful a beautiful country country along along thethe coast coast of of thethe Adriatic Adriatic SeaSea with with thethe kindest kindest people people butbut thethe cruelest cruelest past. past.

Home Home to fewer to fewer than than three three million million people, people, thethe country country is just is just over over eleven eleven thousand thousand square square miles, miles, only only slightly slightly larger larger than than thethe state state of of New New Jersey Jersey andand about about halfhalf thethe sizesize of of Ireland.

Ireland.

YetYet during during mymy childhood, childhood, its its totalitarian totalitarian government government wanted wanted us us to believe to believe thatthat wewe Albanians Albanians resided resided at the at the center center of of thethe cosmos. cosmos.

Until Until 1991, 1991, when when Albania’s Albania’s Communist Communist regime regime joined joined its its ersterstwhile while allyally thethe Soviet Soviet Union Union in the in the dustbin dustbin of history, of history, mymy country country waswas thethe North North Korea Korea of Europe: of Europe: poor, poor, paranoid, paranoid, andand cutcut off off from from contact contact with with thethe restrest of of thethe world. world.

Peering Peering beyond beyond ourour barbedbarbedwire wire borders borders waswas forbidden forbidden by by an an all-allpowerful powerful government government thatthat crushed crushed dissent dissent with with internal internal exile, exile, hard hard labor, labor, andand thethe death death penalty. penalty.

TheThe state state maintained maintained hundreds hundreds of thousands of thousands of concrete of concrete bunkers bunkers scattered scattered across across thethe country country to to protect protect itself itself against against thethe “Anglo“AngloAmerican American threat”; threat”; it imprisoned it imprisoned andand persecuted persecuted many many thousands thousands of Albanians of Albanians in camps in camps modeled modeled on on Joseph Joseph Stalin’s Stalin’s harsh harsh Soviet Soviet gulags. gulags.

Foreigners Foreigners were were notnot welcome, welcome, andand Albanians Albanians were were notnot allowed allowed to travel to travel abroad. abroad.

Inside Inside thethe country, country, thethe government government

xii xii

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

decided decided where where andand how how youyou could could live.live.

Displays Displays of individuality of individuality were were punished. punished.

TheThe only only place place thatthat waswas open open to us to us waswas thethe skysky andand thethe stars stars above. above.

TheThe state state could could notnot prevent prevent us from us from looking looking up.up.

Even Even as aas a young young child, child, I could I could escape escape intointo thethe sky.sky.

By By sheer sheer luck, luck, I had I had an an opportunity opportunity forfor escape escape thatthat others others didn’t. didn’t.

When When I was I was growing growing up,up, mymy mother mother worked worked at the at the Albanian Albanian League League of Writers of Writers andand Artists, Artists, an an organization organization forfor artists, artists, writers, writers, andand composers. composers.

HerHer workplace workplace hadhad its its own own special special library library where where I could I could access access books books in English, in English, which which thethe state state hadhad classifi classifi ed ed as as prohibited prohibited Western Western literature, literature, forbidden forbidden to to ordinary ordinary Albanians.

Albanians.

Through Through these these books books I traveled I traveled to to thethe ends ends of of thethe world. world.

ButBut I I could could notnot share share mymy dreams dreams andand imaginings imaginings with with anyone anyone beyond beyond mymy parents. parents.

MyMy father father anticipated anticipated thethe frustration frustration thatthat boundaries boundaries breed breed in aincurious a curious child, child, so he so he devised devised clever clever ways ways of using of using books, books, art,art, andand music music to to channel channel mymy curiosity curiosity andand strengthen strengthen mymy mental mental resilience. resilience.

Classical Classical music music became became ourour encrypted encrypted language, language, a a code code through through which which we we could could escape escape ourour everyday everyday circumstances circumstances andand share share ourour contemplations contemplations of the of the beauty beauty of the of the universe. universe.

In the In the eyeseyes of the of the Albanian Albanian Communist Communist government, government, mymy father father hadhad a “bad a “bad biography”— biography”— hishis family family hadhad been been landowners landowners forfor generations generations in in pre-preCommunist Communist times, times, andand because because of this, of this, they they were were continuously continuously persecuted. persecuted.

MyMy grandmother grandmother diddid notnot seesee herher brothers brothers until until 1991; 1991; oneone of them of them waswas in jail in jail forfor nearly nearly fiftyfifty years. years.

Several Several other other relatives relatives were were forced forced intointo camps, camps, shot, shot, or or exiled. exiled.

MyMy dad’s dad’s firstfirst cousin, cousin, an an engineer engineer who who waswas partpart of the of the project project to to drain drain thethe swamps swamps in Albania in Albania after after World World War War II, II, waswas taken taken from from hishis home home in in thethe 1970s, 1970s, shot shot dead, dead, andand carted carted off.off Two . Two decades decades later, later, hishis family family found found hishis body body at at thethe medical medical school school in in thethe capital capital city,city, Tirana, Tirana, where where it was it was perfectly perfectly preserved preserved in formaldein formaldehyde hyde andand being being used used to teach to teach anatomy. anatomy.

By By then, then, thethe dead dead man’s man’s

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

xiiixiii

brothers brothers andand cousins cousins were were in their in their seventies, seventies, butbut thethe corpse corpse they they found found remained remained thethe image image of its of its thirtysomething thirtysomething self.self.

TheThe man man finally finally received received a proper a proper burial burial in 1997. in 1997.

MyMy daddad fared fared better better than than hishis cousin; cousin; he he waswas temporarily temporarily exiled. exiled.

This This happened happened several several times times over over thethe course course of of mymy childhood. childhood.

HisHis firstfirst exile exile occurred occurred when when I was I was fivefiyears ve years oldold andand waswas triggered triggered by by a letter. a letter.

At At thethe time, time, mymy father father waswas a professor a professor of econometrics of econometrics at the at the University University of Tirana. of Tirana.

HeHe hadhad been been working working on on a diffi a diffi cultcult mathemathematical matical problem problem thatthat hadhad important important applications applications from from economy economy to astronomy. to astronomy.

It involved It involved thethe inverse inverse of very of very bigbig andand very very sparse sparse matrices, matrices, which which resemble resemble massive massive spreadsheets spreadsheets with with hundreds hundreds of of rows rows andand columns columns butbut where where most most of of thethe entries entries areare zero. zero.

This This work work earned earned himhim an an invitation invitation from from thethe University University of Oxford of Oxford in in Great Great Britain— Britain— he he waswas offered offered a sixa sixmonth month sabbatical sabbatical to discuss to discuss hishis new new algorithm. algorithm.

ButBut thethe letter letter never never reached reached him. him.

It was It was interintercepted cepted by by thethe Albanian Albanian government. government.

Instead Instead of of visiting visiting Oxford, Oxford, mymy father father began began hishis exile exile at the at the start start of the of the academic academic year, year, mymy firstfirst dayday of school. of school.

That That morning morning he he took took meme to school to school in my in my newnew uniform, uniform, holding holding flowers flowers forfor thethe teacher, teacher, as ifasall if all waswas well. well.

ButBut because because I had I had overheard overheard mymy parents’ parents’ whispered whispered conversations, conversations, I knew I knew he he would would notnot be be collecting collecting meme from from school school thatthat afternoon afternoon or for or for many many days days after. after.

Nevertheless, Nevertheless, I I pretended pretended to be to excited be excited so that so that thethe hopelessness hopelessness I felt I felt would would notnot be be thethe lastlast image image of me of me mymy father father took took with with himhim to exile. to exile.

MyMy mother mother andand I had I had already already lived lived through through much much drama drama in in thethe previous previous months, months, a dark a dark time time during during which which mymy father father underunderwent went a process a process thatthat waswas euphemistically euphemistically called called an an “ideological “ideological debate” debate” butbut thatthat waswas in in factfact a trial a trial thatthat would would decide decide hishis fatefate andand punishment. punishment.

In In those those days, days, there there were were no no defense defense attorneys attorneys or real or real trials trials in Albania; in Albania; thethe purpose purpose of the of the “debate” “debate” waswas to have to have fellow fellow professors professors andand university university employees employees demonstrate demonstrate to to mymy

xivxiv

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

father father thatthat receiving receiving an an invitation invitation from from Oxford Oxford meant meant he he hadhad erred erred ideologically ideologically andand as as a result, a result, he he needed needed to to be be punished punished andand rehabilitated. rehabilitated.

This This sham sham went went on on every every dayday forfor twotwo weeks, weeks, often often until until midnight. midnight.

At At thethe endend of the of the debate, debate, a decision a decision would would be be made made on on hishis punishment, punishment, which which could could be be anything anything from from jail,jail, to exile, to exile, to the to the death death penalty. penalty.

WeWe didn’t didn’t know know how how long long thethe debate debate would would lastlast or or what what decision decision would would be be made. made.

MyMy mother mother andand I waited I waited every every night night with with thethe lights lights switched switched off off andand ourour faces faces pressed pressed against against thethe window, window, hoping hoping to hear to hear mymy father’s father’s footsteps footsteps before before thethe next next ticktick of the of the wallwall clock; clock; we we were were notnot allowed allowed to openly to openly show show affection affection to to someone someone who who waswas under under investigation investigation by by thethe party. party.

ButBut thethe memory memory of of thethe terror terror wewe experienced experienced before before wewe finally finally heard heard thethe sound sound of of hishis footsteps footsteps andand feltfelt thethe warmth warmth of of hishis embrace embrace after after he he closed closed thethe front front door door continues continues to chill to chill meme to my to my core. core.

OnOn thatthat firstfirst dayday of of school, school, kidskids gathered gathered in in thethe schoolyard. schoolyard.

One One by by one, one, their their names names were were called, called, andand they they were were sentsent to smaller to smaller groups groups andand introduced introduced to their to their teachers. teachers.

MyMy newnew teacher’s teacher’s name name waswas Shpresa, Shpresa, which which means means “hope” “hope” in in Albanian.

Albanian.

I pretended I pretended to to talktalk with with thethe other other kidskids after after I handed I handed thethe flowers flowers to my to my teacher, teacher, butbut I was I was following following mymy father father outout of the of the corner corner of my of my eyeeye as he as he slowly slowly receded receded from from thethe school school fence. fence.

I did I did notnot dare dare turn turn mymy head. head.

I remember I remember hishis look look of of lossloss andand profound profound melancholy melancholy as as he he glanced glanced back back oneone more more time time before before rounding rounding thethe corner corner andand vanishing. vanishing.

I did I did notnot know know when when or if orIifwould I would seesee himhim again. again.

Eventually, Eventually, mymy father father waswas allowed allowed to return to return home home forfor oneone weekweekendend a month. a month.

(Finally, (Finally, after after twotwo years, years, thethe government government realized realized they they needed needed hishis expertise expertise again, again, so he so he waswas released released andand reinstated reinstated at the at the Academy Academy of of Science.)

Science.)

It was It was during during hishis brief brief visits visits thatthat he he taught taught meme some some of of hishis most most enduring enduring lessons— lessons— latelatenight night wisdom wisdom thatthat I would I would carry carry with with meme on on mymy own own journey journey through through thethe darkness. darkness.

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

xv xv

In In those those days, days, Radio Radio Tirana Tirana would would broadcast broadcast an an hourhourlong long classical classical music music program program at 11:00 at 11:00 p.m. p.m. each each Saturday.

Saturday.

During During hishis visits, visits, ignoring ignoring mymy mom’s mom’s protests, protests, mymy daddad would would wake wake meme justjust before before thethe show show began. began.

In In thethe silence silence of of thethe night, night, we we listened listened together together to the to the divine divine notes notes trickling trickling intointo thethe living living room room from from what what seemed seemed likelike thethe other other sideside of the of the universe, universe, carried carried from from an-another other space space andand another another time. time.

HisHis whispered whispered commentaries commentaries over over thethe music music andand during during these these interludes interludes fueled fueled mymy own own lifelong lifelong admiration admiration forfor human human ingenuity ingenuity andand achievement. achievement.

OnOn oneone of of those those Saturday Saturday nights, nights, thethe selection selection waswas Bach.

Bach.

HisHis Toccata Toccata andand Fugue Fugue waswas mymy dad’s dad’s favorite favorite piece, piece, though though thethe Brandenburg Brandenburg Concerto Concerto No.No. 3 became 3 became mymy own. own.

“Shh! “Shh! Listen Listen to this to this part,” part,” he he would would say.say.

“It “It sitssits at the at the depth depth of human of human concondition dition andand misery. misery.

It rocks It rocks youyou gently gently as as it rolls it rolls down, down, then then farther farther down, down, andand yetyet farther farther until until it reaches it reaches thethe bottom. bottom.

ButBut listen listen . . . .and . and youyou cancan hear— hear— Bach Bach is not is not disturbed. disturbed.

HeHe is tois totally tally serene serene even even in his in his darkest darkest moments. moments.

Can Can youyou feelfeel thethe trantranquility quility in in hishis sadness? sadness?

HeHe is all is all tootoo familiar familiar with with thethe human human condition condition andand thethe contrasting contrasting emotions emotions of anguish of anguish andand happihappiness. ness.

HeHe knows knows thethe sorrows, sorrows, likelike thethe highs, highs, areare part part of life. of life.

“He “He is peaceful,” is peaceful,” mymy father father continued, continued, “because “because he he is aware is aware of the of the root root of his of his problem: problem: HisHis music music exists exists outside outside of time, of time, andand hishis genius genius is ahead is ahead of his of his time. time.

ButBut he he hashas made made hishis choice. choice.

HeHe hashas chosen chosen to raise to raise thethe barbar higher, higher, to produce to produce beauty beauty forfor eternity eternity without without regard regard forfor what what might might please please contemporary contemporary audiences. audiences.

When When composing composing hishis works, works, he he is driven is driven by by a higher a higher calling, calling, oneone thatthat comes comes from from within.” within.”

Then Then onto onto thethe allegro. allegro.

“There “There now, now, listen listen . . . listen, . . listen, cancan youyou hear hear that?” that?”

Suddenly Suddenly thethe notes notes were were rising rising again, again, gently gently carrying carrying away away thethe waves waves of bleakness. of bleakness.

After After thethe music music waswas over, over, mymy daddad would would explain, explain, “You “You see,see, Bach Bach knows knows he he hashas created created something something special. special.

Many Many countries countries

xvixvi

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

hadhad kings, kings, queens, queens, dictators dictators at one at one time time or another or another in their in their history. history.

Bach, Bach, Beethoven, Beethoven, andand many many other other great great composers, composers, mathematimathematicians, cians, andand scientists scientists worked worked forfor those those rulers. rulers.

ButBut they they were were notnot confi confi nedned by by their their circumstances. circumstances.

They They were were driven driven by by their their own own passion passion to produce to produce masterpieces. masterpieces.

“Their “Their work work made made them them free. free.

ForFor it isit only is only books, books, art,art, music, music, andand discovery discovery thatthat elevates elevates us into us into truly truly freefree human human beings. beings.

YouYou tootoo cancan choose choose to to surround surround yourself yourself with with thisthis treasure treasure of knowledge of knowledge andand creativity.” creativity.”

MyMy daddad andand I were I were notnot musicians, musicians, butbut we we found found scientifi scientifi c inquiry c inquiry as inspiring as inspiring as Bach’s as Bach’s music. music.

Indeed, Indeed, these these whispered whispered conversations conversations provided provided some some of of thethe earliest earliest inspiration inspiration forfor mymy own own scientifi scientifi c c journey. journey.

There There were were other other early early inflinfl uences uences too.too.

Perhaps Perhaps thethe in-indoctrination doctrination I witnessed I witnessed during during mymy Albanian Albanian childhood childhood chiseled chiseled intointo mymy personality personality a desire a desire to seek to seek answers answers forfor myself myself by by applyapplyinging logic logic andand tests, tests, even even if sometimes if sometimes thatthat meant meant going going against against established established beliefs. beliefs.

ButBut thatthat curiosity curiosity took took meme on on an an odyssey odyssey richer richer than than either either mymy father father or Iorcould I could have have imagined: imagined: a quest a quest forfor thethe underlying underlying workings workings andand mathematically mathematically encrypted encrypted beauty beauty of the of the universe. universe.

Today, Today, I live I live in the in the United United States States andand amam a professor a professor of theoof theoretical retical physics physics andand cosmology cosmology at the at the University University of North of North Carolina.

Carolina.

TheThe universe’s universe’s origin origin is now is now a central a central topic topic of cosmology of cosmology andand oneone of my of my main main areas areas of study. of study.

And And I can I can seekseek answers, answers, because, because, thankthankfully, fully, in Western in Western academia, academia, no no question question is forbidden, is forbidden, notnot even even thethe twotwo greatest greatest cosmological cosmological questions questions of our of our time: time: What What is the is the origin origin of our of our universe? universe?

And And what what lieslies beyond? beyond?

Since Since mymy university university days, days, I have I have been been fascinated fascinated by by thethe firstfirst of of these these questions, questions, oneone thatthat is ages is ages old:old: If our If our universe universe hashas notnot always always existed, existed, how how diddid it originate? it originate?

This, This, in in time, time, ledled meme to to

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

xviixvii

askask followfollowup up questions: questions: What What waswas in place in place before before ourour universe’s universe’s birth, birth, andand what what is beyond is beyond its its edges? edges?

These These questions questions were were followed followed by by thethe most most radical radical question question of of all:all: AreAre we we simply simply oneone universe, universe, a cosmic a cosmic Albania Albania where where thethe world world ends ends at at ourour borders, borders, or or areare we we partpart of of a larger a larger cosmos, cosmos, home home to many to many universes— universes— a multiverse, a multiverse, of which of which ourour universe universe is is simply simply oneone humble humble member? member?

Using Using thethe latest latest advances advances in in theoretical theoretical physics, physics, I developed I developed andand pioneered pioneered a theory a theory to to help help explain explain thethe universe’s universe’s creation. creation.

ForFor thethe firstfirst time, time, thisthis theory theory provided provided an an answer answer to the to the question question of our of our unlikely unlikely origin. origin.

ButBut it also it also went went further, further, offering offering a glimpse a glimpse of the of the vastvast multiverse multiverse in which in which ourour own own universe universe sits.sits.

Central Central to to mymy theory theory is the is the notion notion thatthat we we areare partpart of of a a multiverse— multiverse— thatthat there there areare other other universes universes beyond beyond ourour own. own.

To To many many critics, critics, thethe concept concept of of a multiverse a multiverse is purely is purely speculative, speculative, a flaight flight of theoretical of theoretical fancy fancy thatthat cancan never never be be tested tested andand is thus is thus scientifi scientifi cally cally useless. useless.

ButBut as aasresult a result of my of my theory, theory, we we have have shown shown thethe opposite opposite to be to be true. true.

In In thethe early early 2000s, 2000s, by by applying applying thethe laws laws of quantum of quantum physics physics (such (such as as cross cross talktalk between between universes universes in in thethe multiverse multiverse duedue to to quantum quantum entanglement) entanglement) to the to the problem problem of the of the origin origin of the of the uniuniverse, verse, mymy collaborators collaborators andand I derived I derived a series a series of predictions of predictions from from ourour theory. theory.

Our Our predictions predictions demonstrated demonstrated how how we we could could glimpse glimpse thethe world world beyond beyond thethe borders borders of of ourour own own universe universe andand findfind its its fingerprints fingerprints engraved engraved right right here here on on ourour sky.sky.

Taken Taken together, together, ourour theory theory andand its its testable testable predictions predictions showed showed thatthat thethe answer answer to the to the origin origin of our of our universe universe cancan be be scientifi scientifi cally cally derived, derived, andand thethe existence existence of of thethe multiverse multiverse is in is in factfact testable. testable.

OfOf course, course, these these tests tests necessarily necessarily relyrely on on indirect indirect evidence evidence rather rather than than direct direct proof, proof, because because we we willwill never never be be ableable to travel to travel beyond beyond thethe point point of no of no return— return— thethe horizon horizon of our of our universe, universe, thethe distance distance

xviii xviii

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

from from which which notnot even even light light cancan reach reach us— us— to to obtain obtain thethe kind kind of of incontrovertible incontrovertible evidence evidence thatthat would would satisfy satisfy every every skeptic. skeptic.

ButBut working working with with thethe evidence evidence available available to to us,us, we we cancan stillstill learn learn an an awful awful lot lot about about thethe birth birth of of thethe cosmos. cosmos.

And And thethe factfact remains remains thatthat nearly nearly all all of of thethe anomalies anomalies wewe predicted predicted have have now now been been observed observed in our in our distant distant skies. skies.

TheThe ideaidea thatthat we we livelive notnot in ainsingle a single universe universe butbut in ainmultiverse a multiverse hashas been been contemplated contemplated by by philosophers philosophers since since antiquity. antiquity.

Since Since thethe earliest earliest civilizations, civilizations, human human beings beings have have wondered wondered how how thethe uniuniverse verse started, started, how how it will it will end, end, andand what, what, if anything, if anything, might might lie lie beyond. beyond.

Many Many of of humanity’s humanity’s fundamental fundamental questions questions about about thethe universe universe have have changed changed relatively relatively little little over over thethe millennia. millennia.

TheThe possibility possibility of many of many worlds worlds waswas introduced introduced intointo Western Western thought thought through through thethe inflinfl uence uence of the of the atomists atomists in ancient in ancient Greece.

Greece.

Atomists Atomists thought thought of the of the world world as made as made up up of indivisible of indivisible clumps clumps of matter of matter (atoms) (atoms) andand empty empty space space (voids) (voids) through through which which those those atoms atoms moved. moved.

In In their their view, view, a collection a collection of of atoms atoms moving moving around around thethe voids voids clumped clumped together together to form to form larger larger objects, objects, such such as as stars, stars, planets, planets, andand then then thethe whole whole universe. universe.

Because Because there there were were an an infiinfi nitenite number number of atoms of atoms andand voids, voids, thisthis process process could could be be continuously continuously repeated repeated to form to form many many universes. universes.

The The main main diffdiff erence— erence— andand it isitaiscrucial a crucial one— one— between between these these early early thinkers thinkers andand current current scientists scientists is that, is that, in in thethe past past fewfew centuries, centuries, ourour accumulated accumulated knowledge knowledge about about thethe theories theories of of nature nature andand technological technological progress progress have have allowed allowed us us to to pursue pursue scientifi scientifi c investigations c investigations andand subject subject them them to to observational observational tests tests forfor what what hadhad once once been been purely purely philosophical philosophical ideas. ideas.

Scientists Scientists cancan now now derive derive andand testtest what what previous previous generations generations could could only only imagine. imagine.

What What we we areare finding finding from from these these theoretical theoretical andand observational observational advances advances is poised is poised to to upend upend centuries centuries of of mainstream mainstream thinking. thinking.

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

xixxix

Our Our results results alsoalso challenge challenge thethe dream, dream, long long cherished cherished by by physiphysicists, cists, of discovering of discovering a blueprint a blueprint forfor a cosmos a cosmos thatthat contains contains only only a single a single universe— universe— a dream a dream thatthat entranced entranced many many of the of the greatest greatest minds minds in in theoretical theoretical physics physics in in thethe twentieth twentieth andand early early twentytwentyfirstfirst centuries, centuries, Albert Albert Einstein Einstein among among them. them.

Thanks Thanks in in partpart to to ourour work, work, thethe ideaidea thatthat ourour universe universe is is notnot unique unique butbut belongs belongs to to a much a much larger larger cosmic cosmic family— family— thethe multiverse— multiverse— hashas recently recently moved moved from from thethe fringes fringes of of cosmology cosmology to to thethe scientifi scientifi c mainstream. c mainstream.

How How that that happened happened andand how how thethe ideaidea of the of the multiverse multiverse came came to be to be embraced embraced is the is the story story at the at the heart heart of this of this book. book.

Why Why does does thethe origin origin of of ourour universe universe matter? matter?

Truth Truth be be told, told, many many scientists scientists research research thethe universe universe andand its its origin origin outout of simple of simple curiosity, curiosity, notnot an an expectation expectation of immediate, of immediate, practical practical applications. applications.

To To useuse a distinction a distinction thatthat many many of of these these researchers researchers themselves themselves employ, employ, thethe origins origins of of ourour universe universe have have traditionally traditionally been been thethe purview purview of pure of pure science science rather rather than than applied applied science. science.

Evolution Evolution hashas trained trained humans humans forfor thethe pursuit pursuit of science. of science.

WeWe possess possess special special traits, traits, such such as childlike as childlike curiosity curiosity andand an an innate innate desire desire to understand to understand ourour environment, environment, which which have have ledled ourour species species to to develop develop larger larger brains brains compared compared to to other other inhabitants inhabitants of of thisthis planet. planet.

These These qualities qualities areare representations representations of of something something known known as neoteny, as neoteny, thethe phenomenon phenomenon whereby whereby adults adults retain retain these these characcharacteristics teristics throughout throughout their their lives. lives.

Pure Pure science science andand applied applied science science have have diffdiff erent erent focuses, focuses, butbut they they share share a powerful a powerful symbiotic symbiotic relationship. relationship.

Applied Applied science science cannot cannot exist exist without without thethe discoveries discoveries made made by by pure pure science. science.

And And although although proponents proponents of of pure pure science science may may sometimes sometimes show show dis-disdain dain forfor applied applied science science andand its its practical practical applications, applications, history history hashas demonstrated demonstrated thatthat pure pure science science inevitably inevitably leads leads to to practical practical applications applications thatthat cancan andand do do transform transform ourour lives. lives.

xx xx

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

There There is aistrue a true story story about about Michael Michael Faraday, Faraday, thethe nineteenthnineteenthcentury century scientist scientist who who helped helped unlock unlock thethe mysteries mysteries of of electroelectromagnetism: magnetism: TheThe British British chancellor chancellor of the of the exchequer exchequer (the(the country’s country’s equivalent equivalent of of a minister a minister of of finance) finance) visited visited Faraday’s Faraday’s lablab oneone day.day.

At At thethe endend of of thethe visit, visit, thethe chancellor chancellor said, said, “This “This is all is all so so incredibly incredibly impressive, impressive, butbut what what is itis good it good for?” for?”

Faraday Faraday replied: replied: “I don’t “I don’t know, know, sir,sir, butbut I am I am suresure youyou willwill taxtax it one it one day.” day.”

Indeed, Indeed, today, today, billions billions of of humans humans on on thethe planet planet paypay forfor electricity electricity andand cannot cannot do do without without it. it.

If anyone If anyone hadhad asked asked Einstein Einstein what what hishis theory theory of relativity of relativity waswas good good for,for, he he might might have have given given thethe same same answer answer as Faraday. as Faraday.

Many Many of of ourour increasingly increasingly indispensable indispensable highhightech tech products, products, such such as as GPS GPS devices, devices, areare based based on on Einstein’s Einstein’s work. work.

Modern Modern neuroscience’s neuroscience’s mapping mapping of of thethe brain brain andand thethe electronic electronic trading trading programs programs thatthat govern govern thethe stock stock market market operate operate by by thethe same same set set of of quantum quantum principles principles andand rules rules thatthat Einstein Einstein used used to explain to explain thethe motion motion of of thethe planets planets andand thethe speed speed of light of light in the in the universe. universe.

Human Human curiosity curiosity about about how how thethe stars stars in in thethe skysky shine shine hashas given given us us thethe tools tools to to produce produce nuclear nuclear energy, energy, nuclear nuclear medicine, medicine, andand (unfortunately) (unfortunately) nuclear nuclear weapons. weapons.

Understanding Understanding stars stars andand structure structure formation formation in in thethe universe universe ledled to to fusion fusion andand fission fission potentially potentially providing providing green green energy energy here here on on earth. earth.

Internet, Internet, Wi-WiFi, Fi, computing, computing, andand all all thethe electronic electronic gadgets gadgets thatthat we we now now depend depend on,on, as well as well as ATMs as ATMs andand wireless wireless bank bank transfers, transfers, medical medical imaging imaging machines, machines, andand modern modern medical medical equipment, equipment, would would notnot exist exist without without thethe theory theory of quantum of quantum mechanics mechanics thatthat Einstein Einstein andand hishis theoreticaltheoreticalscience science contemporaries contemporaries helped helped create. create.

Someday, Someday, we we might might derive derive similar similar benefi benefi ts from ts from discoveries discoveries related related to the to the investigation investigation of the of the multiverse. multiverse.

Who Who knows knows what what technological technological advances advances might might be be unlocked unlocked if we if we hadhad a better a better understanding understanding of our of our universe’s universe’s origins? origins?

Who Who knows knows what what ingenuity ingenuity andand creativity creativity might might be be unleashed unleashed if we if we allowed allowed ourour minds minds to to

PRP O RL O G L OU GE U : EM: YMAYL B AA L BN AI ANNI AUNN UI VNEI R VS ER ESE

xxixxi

accept accept a premise a premise thatthat defidefi es centuries es centuries of scientifi of scientifi c orthodoxy? c orthodoxy?

As As we we learn learn more more about about thethe truetrue workings workings of of ourour cosmos, cosmos, we we willwill findfind thatthat ourour greatest greatest scientifi scientifi c breakthroughs c breakthroughs andand discoveries discoveries lie lie ahead ahead of us. of us.

Being Being a part a part of this of this scientifi scientifi c quest c quest is both is both daunting daunting andand up-uplifting. lifting.

ButBut above above all all else,else, it isit an is an inspiring inspiring process— process— oneone thatthat I I aimaim to share to share with with youyou now. now.

In the In the pages pages ahead, ahead, I will I will describe describe mymy personal personal journey journey through through thethe wonders wonders of of thethe cosmos cosmos to to seekseek an an answer answer forfor ourour origins origins andand search search forfor evidence evidence of our of our vaster vaster cosmic cosmic family, family, thethe multiverse. multiverse.

JustJust as we as we once once overturned overturned thethe belief belief thatthat Earth Earth waswas thethe center center point point of the of the universe, universe, with with thethe sun,sun, moon, moon, planets, planets, andand stars stars all all orbiting orbiting ourour planetary planetary home, home, now now we we areare demoting demoting ourour universe universe from from its its historic historic place place at the at the center center of the of the cosmos. cosmos.

In so In doing, so doing, we we areare rewriting rewriting thethe story story of our of our own own origins. origins.

Before Before the the Big Big Bang Bang