We are excited to share this brief Q&A about the Universe(s) with Dr. Brad Tucker, an esteemed Astrophysicist and Cosmologist at the Mt. Stromlo Observatory, Australian National University. Dr. Tucker’s research focuses on supernovae and cosmology, contributing to major projects like the ESSENCE Project, the CfA Supernova Search, the Carnegie Supernova Project, and the Kepler Extra-Galactic Survey (KEGS). He is also leading an innovative project to build a network of ultraviolet telescopes.
Originally from Sacramento, California, Dr. Tucker completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame and his PhD at the Australian National University. Beyond research, he actively engages with the public, gives talks, and appears on various media platforms. He is currently working on his first popular science book and a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).
Join us as Dr. Brad Tucker answers The Big Question.
What is the nature of the universes that exist beyond our cosmic horizon and can we ever detect them?
The idea of the multiverse, or other universes beyond our Universe, is an interesting one. At this point, we really do not have any evidence that suggests they exist. However, both theoretical and more philosophical ideas suggest there could be. At some level, it has a nice appeal – and history behind it. 25 years or so ago, we did not have evidence that planets around other stars existed. 100 or so years ago, we did not have evidence there were other galaxies. Just because we do not have data know, does not mean we will
Why is this important?
The existence of multiple universes would solve some issues in both our way of thinking and calculations. If these universes exist, there is no reason they need to have the same laws of physics. Gravity can be different, so can electricity and magnetism, atoms, and even the nature of light itself. However, it also could be that they are all very similar, but with different values – just as other galaxies have a range of properties.
Where is the answer likely to come from?
To really answer this, we need a new law of physics and math. Areas like string theory are working not only to be able to describe what they are like, but give us ways for testing it.