In the early spring of 1959, a young American physicist named Hugh Everett traveled to Copenhagen to meet with Niels Bohr, a leading figure in quantum mechanics. At just 28 years old, Everett presented Bohr with a radical theory that challenged the established views of quantum theory. Everett proposed the idea of many worlds, suggesting the existence of countless parallel universes populated by alternative versions of ourselves. This interpretation implied that quantum mechanics, when taken literally, supports the existence of these many worlds. Despite its rejection by Bohr, Everett's theory did not fade away. In the 1990s, Professor Simon Saunders at Oxford University sought to mainstream Everett's ideas within the philosophical community. Along with colleagues, Saunders formed the Oxford Group, advocating for the many worlds interpretation. They faced significant criticism, but the development of decoherence theory in the 1980s provided new mathematical tools that supported Everett’s ideas, explaining the branching of worlds as a natural physical process. This group’s work has contributed significantly to the understanding and acceptance of the many worlds theory, suggesting a universe where quantum effects create a complex tapestry of intersecting realities.
#quantumphysics #universe #multiverse
