definition of, t
evolution of theory of
future prospects for
key concepts of, t
mathematical regularity prediction of
prediction of future outcomes in
predictions for future of Universe in, 13.1, 13.2f, 13.3t
simulated realities and, 12.1, 12.2
as solution to infinite regress problem, 10.1, 10.2
symmetry and, 12.1, 12.2
see also mathematical structures
mathematics
accomplishments of precision cosmology as
description of space in
descriptive power of
fundamental numerical constants in, 10.1, 10.2t
as language of Theory of Everything
measurement of space and its contents by
in particle physics
physics and
of quantum mechanics
as reality, 1.1, 2.1, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, 11.1, 13.1, 13.2
significance of, in natural sciences, 10.1, 10.2, 12.1
see also mathematical structures; Mathematical Universe Hypothesis
Mather, John
MAXIMA
Maxwell, James Clerk
Maxwell’s equations
McCabe, Gordon, n
measurement of space and its contents
measure problem, 11.1, 12.1
memory
microwave radiation, cosmic background
Milky Way, 3.1, 3.2, 13.1, 13.2
Miller, Amber
Mind Children (Moravec)
Minkowski space
mirror symmetry, 10.1, 10.2
modal realism
momentum, 7.1, 7.2t
Moon, 2.1f, 2.2, 3.1
Moravec, Hans, 8.1, 12.1
Mukhanov, Viatcheslav, 5.1n, 5.2
multipole maps, 3.1, 4.1
multiverse model
acceptance of, as theory
conceptual basis of, 6.1, 6.2
four-level hierarchy in, 12.1, 12.2f, 12.3, 13.1
objections to arguments for
terminology of, t
testability of
types of multiverses in, 6.1, 6.2t
unification of multiverses in, 8.1, 8.2f
see also Level I multiverse; Level II multiverse; Level III multiverse; Level IV multiverse
muon neutrinos
muons
My World Line (Gamow), 11.1
n (tilt parameter)
NASA, 3.1, 3.2
natural numbers
negative energy of gravity
Netterfield, Barth
neuronal firing, 8.1, 8.2f
neutrinos, 7.1, 7.2t
neutrons
in atomic structure
definition of, t
fine-tuning of
in isotopes, n
structure of
Newton, Isaac, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2
Newton’s law, 7.1, 9.1
Nobel Prize, 1.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3
No-Copy Assumption
Noether, Emmy
non-Euclidean geometry, 2.1, 10.1
Nozick, Robert
nuclear war
nucleosynthesis theory, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 7.1
Oberhummer, Heinz
observer moments
definition of
experience of reality in, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3
measure problem of
in prediction of future
reasoning in
Oldhoff, Johan
Omega particle
omniscope
Omnivision Assumption
Orwell, George
Our Final Hour (Rees), 13.1n
oxygen
in fine-tuned Universe, 6.1, 12.1
nucleosynthesis
Page, Lyman, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1
parabola
parallax measurement
parallel universe(s)
creation of
death and
definition of, t
infinity of space and
mathematical description and
multiverses and
resistance to idea of, 8.1, 8.2, 13.1
seed fluctuations in formation of
theory of
unification across levels among
see also Level I parallel universes; Level III parallel universes
Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives
particle physics
current understanding of, 7.1, 7.2t
as mathematical description of reality, 7.1, 10.1
quantum laws of, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1
symmetry properties in
Pauli exclusion principle, n
Pedagogical-Reality Assumption
Penrose, Roger, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2, 10.1n, 12.1
perceptronium
Perlmutter, Saul
Permutation City (Egan)
phonons
photoelectric effect
photons
destruction of quantum superposition by scattering of, 8.1, 8.2f
in light theory, 2.1f, 7.1
number of, in our Universe
in quantum field theory of light
physics
apparent simplicity of laws of
big questions of, 2.1, 4.1
course of scientific progress in
dimensions of space and time and
effective laws of, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3t
future prospects for science of, 12.1, 13.1
mathematics and
as method for studying reality, 1.1f, 1.2
of parallel universes
phases of space
resistance to innovative thinking in
scientifically accepted theories of
as study of symmetry
testability of multiverse model in
variation in fundamental laws of, in Level IV multiverse
see also particle physics; quantum mechanics
pions
PIQ
pixels
Planck, Max
Planck satellite, 3.1f, 3.2, 3.3
Planck’s constant
Plato, 1.1, 7.1
Platonic solids, 7.1, 7.2f, 10.1, 10.2
Poirier, Bill, 8.1, 10.1
POLAR
polarized light
Popper, Karl, 6.1, 11.1, 11.2
power-spectrum curves
angular scale of, 4.1f, 4.2
clumping of matter in Universe and, 4.1, 4.2f, 4.3, 4.4
cosmic matter budget calculations and, 4.1, 4.2
definition of
early calculations of
standard model of, 4.1, 4.2f
principle of mediocrity
probability cloud
protons
in atomic structure
definition of, t
fine-tuning of
in hydrogen plasma
number of, in our Universe
structure of
Pythagoreans
QMAP, 3.1, 3.2
quadrupole
qualia, 9.1, 11.1
Quantum Card thought experiment, 8.1, 8.2f, 8.3, 8.4f
quantum computers
quantum field theory, 7.1, 11.1
quantum gravity
quantum immortality, 7.1t, 11.1
quantum mechanics
Copenhagen interpretation of, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 10.1
cosmic seed fluctuations explained by
cosmological interpretation of
economic benefits from
Everett’s interpretation of, 7.1t, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 9.1
evolution of theory of, 7.1, 8.1, 9.1
favored interpretations of
gravitation and
hidden variable explanation in
illusion of randomness in, 8.1, 8.2
key concepts of, t
limits to variation in Universe configurations imposed by
measurement problem of
relevanc
e to physical reality, 8.1, 9.1
second law of thermodynamics and
as source of differences in parallel universes
spacetime in
subject–object–environment model of interactions in, 8.1, 8.2f
symmetry properties in
weirdness of, 1.1, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2f, 8.3, 8.4
see also decoherence; wavefunction
quantum numbers, 7.1, 7.2t, 7.3
Quantum Suicide experiment
quark field
quarks
constituent parts of
types of. see also specific type
radioactive decay
randomness
cause of illusion of, 8.1, 12.1
of cosmic seed fluctuations, 6.1, 6.2, 12.1
fine-tuning of Universe and
in fundamental properties of matter
lack of, in Level IV multiverse
perception of, in multiverse, 11.1, 11.2f, 11.3, 11.4
in quantum mechanics, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 9.1, 12.1
rational numbers
reality
definition of, 1.1, 6.1, 6.2t
experience of, 1.1, 1.2
human efforts to explain, 1.1, 3.1
mathematical accounts of, 1.1, 2.1
physics as method for studying, 1.1f, 1.2
quantum mechanics and
simulated
size of
weirdness of
see also consensus reality; external reality; internal reality
reality model
creation of
definition of, t
redshift, 3.1, 4.1
redundancy, n
Rees, Martin, 6.1, 8.1
reference class
of self-aware entities
in Strong Self-Sampling Assumption, 11.1, 11.2
relational reality
Restaurant at the End of the Universe, The (Adams)
Richards, Paul
Riemann, Bernhard
Riemann space
Riess, Adam
Road to Reality, The (Penrose), 10.1n
rotational symmetry, 10.1, 10.2
Rubin, Vera
Rutherford, Ernest, f
Ryle, Martin
Sanchez, Nevada
Sato, Katsuhiko, n
scalar field with quadratic potential
scattering
Schlegel, David
Schmidhuber, Jürgen, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4
Schmidt, Brian
Schrödinger, Erwin, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3
Schrödinger equation, 1.1, 2.1f, 7.1, 7.2t, 8.1
conceptual basis of
names of objects predicted by
origins of
randomness and, 8.1, 8.2
in subject–object–environment model of quantum interaction
see also Copenhagen interpretation; Everett (Many Worlds) interpretation; wavefunction
Schrödinger’s cat, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3
Schur, Issai
Schwab, Keith
Science magazine
Scientific American, 8.1, 13.1
scientific method
self-awareness
artificial intelligence and
evolutionary advantage of
in experience of reality, 11.1, 11.2f, 11.3
in Level IV multiverse
locating entities with, in mathematical structure
properties of entities possessing
reference class of entities with
Shannon, Claude
Shor, Peter
Sigma particles
Silk, Joe, 3.1, 3.2, 10.1
simulated realities, 12.1, 12.2
singularity, Big Bang
Singularity (artificial intelligence)
Sleeping Beauty puzzle
Sloan Digital Sky Survey, 4.1, 4.2f, 4.3, 4.4
Sloan Great Wall
Smolin, Lee, 6.1, 11.1
Smoot, George, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
Socrates
Solar System
measurement and mapping of
origins of
Solomonoff, Ray
South Pole Telescope
So-Young Pi, n
space
curvature of, 2.1f, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2, 6.1
definition of, t
expansion of
infinite, in inflation, 5.1, 5.2
as mathematical object, 2.1, 10.1, 11.1
as medium
phases of
size of, evolution of human understanding of
spacetime and
types of, as mathematical structures
see also infinity of space; spacetime
spacetime
human experience of time in
in Level IV multiverse
mathematical properties of
nature of time in
path of human life moving through
perspectives on reality in
spectrography, 2.1, 2.2f, 4.1, 7.1
speed of light
Spergel, David
spin, t
standard candle
standard model. see cosmological standard model
Standish, Russell
Stapledon, Olaf
Starobinsky, Alexei, n
stars
measurement and mapping of
number of
Steinhardt, Paul, 5.1n, 5.2, 6.1
strangelet
strange quarks
Strauss, Michael
string theory, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, 13.1, 13.2
AdS/CFT correspondence in
dimensions of space and time in
strong nuclear force, 4.1, 7.1
Strong Self-Sampling Assumption
structural realism, n
Sun, 2.1, 2.2f, 6.1
threats to life on Earth in future of
supernova
superposition
in decoherence theory, 8.1, 8.2, 9.1
definition of, t
in double-slit experiment, 7.1f, 8.1
in Everett’s interpretation, 8.1, 8.2
in Level III multiverse
macroworld manifestations of, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 9.1
in quantum computing, 8.1f, 8.2
in quantum suicide experiment, 8.1, 8.2
in Schrödinger’s formulation, 7.1, 7.2
see also duplicated lives in parallel universes
Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Feynman)
symmetry, 10.1, 10.2t, 10.3
in Level IV multiverse
significance of, in study of physics
tau neutrinos
tauons
Taylor, Jane
Tegmark, Alexander, 2.1f, 3.1, 7.1
Tegmark, Philip, 3.1, 3.2, 8.1f
telescopy
for hydrogen mapping
Tenerife
Tetris
theory, definition of
Theory of Everything, 9.1, 9.2, 10.1, 10.2, 11.1, 12.1, 12.2
theory of general relativity, 1.1, 4.1, 9.1
curvature of space in, 2.1f, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1, 6.1
dark energy predicted by
inflation theory and, 5.1, 5.2f
motion of the Universe and, 3.1, 3.2
perception of space and time in
as successful scientific theory
Theory of Nothing (Standish)
theory of special relativity, 5.1, 10.1, 12.1
thermodynamics, second law of
tides
tilt parameter
Timaeus (Plato)
time
creation of infinite space and
infinite, as problem for physics
perception of flow in
prediction of future events in, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3
reality and
in simulated universe
in theory of general relativity
see also spacetime
Time Reborn (Smolin)
Tipler, Frank, 6.1, 12.1
Tolman, Richard
Tononi, Giulio, 11.1, 11
.2, 11.3
topology
top quarks
torus, 2.1, 6.1, 6.2f
transfinite numbers
translational symmetry
truth, human search for
Tunguska event
Turing, Alan
Turner, Michael, n
Turok, Neil
21-centimeter tomography
Union of Concerned Scientists
universal structural realism, n
Universe
age of, 3.1, 3.2f, 3.3
baby pictures of, 3.1, 3.2f, 3.3
benefits of continued mapping of
cosmic microwave–background radiation of
definition of, 6.1, 6.2t
formation of, 3.1, 3.2f, 3.3, 6.1
future of
human concern for
information content of
likelihood of intelligent life in, 13.1, 13.2
as mathematical construct
meaning of life and
measurement of density of, 4.1, 5.1
size of
see also clustered structure of Universe; cosmic matter budget; expansion of the Universe; inflation theory; multiverse model; parallel universe(s)
up quarks, 7.1, 7.2
uranium
Vilenkin, Alex, 5.1n, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 8.1, 8.2, 11.1, 11.2
Vinge, Vernor
Vogeley, Michael
von Fraunhofer, Joseph
von Koch, Helge, f
von Neumann, John, 8.1, 11.1
voxels
wavefunction
collapse of. see wavefunction collapse
current understanding of, 7.1, 8.1
definition of, t
effects of observation on
Everett’s interpretation of, 8.1, 8.2
in interpretations of quantum mechanics, 8.1, 8.2
location of
as mathematical object
in quantum field theory
Schrödinger’s formulation of, 7.1f, 7.2
in unification of multiverses, 8.1, 8.2f
wavefunction collapse
mathematical description of
as product of observation, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1
randomness implied by, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1
theory of, 7.1, 7.2t
W-bosons, 7.1, 7.2
weak anthropic principle, 6.1, 11.1
weak nuclear force, 6.1, 7.1
Weinberg, Steven, 2.1, 6.1, 6.2
Weyl, Hermann
Wharton, Ken, n
Wheeler, John, 6.1, 8.1, 8.2f, 12.1
white dwarfs
Wigner, Eugene, 1.1, 10.1, 10.2, 12.1, 12.2
Wilczek, Frank
Wildberger, Norman
Wilson, Robert, 3.1, 3.2
Witten, Ed
WMAP, 3.1f, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4
Wolfram, Stephen, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4
world lines
Worrall, John, n
Xiao-Gang Wen
Yeltsin, Boris
youngness paradox
Yudkowsky, Eliezer
Zaldarriaga, Matias, 4.1, 4.2