The Multiverse: Science, Religion, or Pseudoscience?

Why do physicists think that our universe isn't the only one? And should you believe them? In this video, I explain what the multiverse is and what the problem is with it. I have talked about this before but in hindsight I think I made it too confusing. This is my new and hopefully improved attempt to summarize the important points.

Correction: At 5 minutes 20 seconds, the text on screen says "Enternal Inflation" -- that should have been "Eternal Inflation"! Sorry about that!

🔗 Join this channel to get access to perks ➜

00:00 Intro
00:24 What is a Multiverse?
01:41 The Many Worlds Interpretation
04:33 Eternal Inflation
06:00 The String Theory Landscape
07:35 The Problem with the Multiverse
10:28 Answers to the Usual Objections
15:03 Conclusion
15:30 Sponsor Message

#physics #philosophy #universe #quizwithit

[dithy]

Don't worry about multiverse enthusiasts not agreeing with your video, because there is a multiverse in which they do.

[thegreatgazoo]

Thank you for specifically pointing out that just because something exists mathematically does not mean it exists in reality. Too many people fail to grasp that concept.

[hwica]

Sabine nailed it. Mathematics is a tool to simulate reality, but it can also be used to simulate fantasy.

[D_Archives]

It's impossible to overstate how great this channel is.

[gregcampwriter]

As a writer of science fiction, I observe that the concept of the multiverse is a powerful tool that one must use sparingly lest it become a cheap trick to save sagging ratings or a plot that's going nowhere.

[raffaeledivora]

Zuckerberg candy... that's an excellent german joke 🤣 (Zucker=sugar in german)

[fritzwardrodriguezprep]

Part of what makes this series so great is even my middle school science students can grasp most of the argument. They have all seen Marvel movies about the multiverse and find the concept interesting. It's great that they can understand that a concept science can still have value as a literary device. Hossenfelder does a wonderful job in explaining that just because science cannot address a topic does not mean the topic itself is without value.

[fonkyfesh-old]

Thank you Sabine, for bringing all this tabloid-level "science" back down to earth.

[AlexanderGieg]

I'd add a fourth category to Science, Religion, and Pseudoscience: Philosophy. Simplicity arguments referring to Occam's Razor, as well as those based on Popper (or Kuhn, Feyerabend, Lakatos, etc.), are all about the conditions of possibility of scientific research, that is, they pertain to Philosophy of Science. Therefore, those arguing for the multiverse hypothesis on the basis of the simplicity of axioms (vs those who oppose it on the basis of the simplicity of outcomes), are doing so from a Philosophical perspective, more than from a Scientific, Religious, or Pseudoscientific one.

[garysteven]

Your videos are always a treat for rational thinking, thank you Sabine!!! ❤️

[craigbettencourt]

Sabine, your now my role model. Your confident and unapologetic verbal expression of the truth in the face of what others might say to the contrary is very admirable and brave.

[frank]

Such an impressive intellect, and even more impressive to be able to communicate these ideas with such clarity!

[TheSkystrider]

I love how rational Sabine is. Very satisfying ways of explaining what things are and what things are not, regularly.

[donaldcarter]

Thank you Sabrine, for explaining difficult physics problems in ways your everyday average Joes with a high school education like myself can understand. I'm so glad to hear that I'm not the only one who thinks that (although fun to discuss) the multiverse has a nice home in science fiction, but not one just yet in physics! You rock Sabrine, keep the videos coming!

[jeremyrice]

I never thought a explanation of the multiverse theory could be so funny! Absolutely brilliant.

[MightyDrunken]

It's a shame that we live in the only Universe where the multiverse does not exist.

[Quidisi]

One of your BEST videos ever!
My takeaways: 1. If it can't be empirically observed, it may not be wrong, but it's not science, it's faith-based.
2. Just because some math describes reality does not mean that all math describes reality. (Math is a sub-set of Reality, not the other way around)

[emergentform]

Brilliant, love it. Most humans tend to confuse their internal thoughts/theories with external reality, and it's not only theists who have this problem. It seems to be a very common issue for most people, I've noticed.

[garycarter]

I love you in every multiverse. Thank you!!! Great video! :)

[KutWrite]

Fascinating, as usual.

Kudos on your graphics. They really pop!

I feel sorry for any universe in which there is no Sabine Hossenfelder.