Have you ever wondered if there’s a version of yourself out there that decided on pizza last night rather than salad? Quantum physics suggests that that version may actually exist—just in a different universe.

Greetings from the surreal realm of quantum mechanics, where things become a little… strange. The Many Worlds Interpretation (MWI), which holds that the universe splits every time you make a decision, no matter how tiny, and creates a parallel version of you living out the opposite choice, is one of the most fascinating (and contentious) theories in quantum theory. Have you decided to dress in red today? There’s a blue-siding version of you out there.

Let’s first explore what the Many Worlds Interpretation actually implies for our view of reality and how it alters the way we think about, well, everything, before we start picturing a world in which cats can talk and you’re a rock star.

What is the Many Worlds Interpretation?

It is necessary to briefly digress into quantum mechanics in order to comprehend the Many Worlds Interpretation. Particles act differently at the subatomic level than they do as solid, dependable objects are used to. They can be in several states (or locations) at once because they are in a state of superposition. When you flip a coin, it should land on tails or heads simultaneously, but it doesn’t until you see it.

Open the Interpretation of Many Worlds. This theory holds that the universe splits into several versions of itself, with each conceivable event occurring in a distinct universe, rather than collapsing into a single outcome when observed. Thus, the coin lands heads in one reality and tails in another. Multiply it by each choice that each and every particle in the universe, and you’ve got… well, a lot of worlds.

The Origins of Many Worlds Schrödinger’s Cat Problem

One of the most well-known thought experiments in quantum physics is Schrödinger’s Cat, which we will talk about presently. Imagine a radioactive atom in a box with a 50% probability of breaking down and releasing poison that would kill the cat. According to quantum theory, the cat is in a state of superposition and is therefore both alive and dead—until you open the box and discover what occurs.

The Many Worlds Interpretation raises this peculiar situation to a new plane. The universe splits, with the cat existing in two different worlds—one in which it is alive and the other in which it is dead—instead of the cat existing in some kind of weird limbo. Every choice creates a new universe.

Is There Really Another Version of You Out There?

This is where the fun (or confusion, depending on your point of view) really begins. There must be countless versions of you living out every scenario imaginable if the Many Worlds Interpretation is accurate. You could be a well-known writer in one reality, an astronaut in another, or you could be reading this blog right now in a third universe.

Before you begin to fret about whether the “other you” is choosing a better course in life, keep in mind that these two selves are never going to interact. Every universe exists independently and separately. Unfortunately, you can’t ask your prosperous rock star self for guidance on a career.

Does This Mean We Live in a Multiverse?

To put it succinctly: perhaps. One theory that proposes the possibility of a multiverse, where infinite universes coexist side by side and each represents a distinct form of reality, is the Many Worlds Interpretation. Even though it’s one of the most widely accepted interpretations of quantum mechanics, not all scientists share this opinion.

The Many Worlds Interpretation is viewed as a natural explanation for the peculiar behavior of particles at the quantum level by some scientists, while others feel that it is a little unrealistic. Currently, the multiverse is still only a theoretical idea that is entertaining to think about but very difficult to verify (at least not yet).

What is the Catch?

Though it sounds exhilarating, the thought of being able to live out every option indefinitely has some mind-bending ramifications. For example, you may be living the dream in one world and having lost a chance that may have changed your life in another. Every option has a universe in which it occurs, no matter how improbable.

The key query: What role do the decisions you make in this reality have if there are infinite realities? If the opposite choice was taken in a universe, does your decision still matter?

That’s when things start to get philosophical. Your perception of reality is distinct, regardless of the existence of infinite versions of you. Your own universe is still defined by the decisions you make, even if there is another you out there.

Conclusion

There are endless options when one considers the Many Worlds Interpretation. It’s amazing to consider the countless options, even though we can’t determine if there are other versions of you out there making other decisions. Perhaps there’s a world in which you’re the foremost authority on quantum physics and you never discovered it!

There are endless options when one considers the Many Worlds Interpretation. It’s amazing to consider the countless options, even though we can’t determine if there are other versions of you out there making other decisions. Perhaps there’s a world in which you’re the foremost authority on quantum physics and you never discovered it!

But before you leave, consider this for a moment…

Is there a version of yourself who truly reads the terms and conditions before clicking “I agree” if there is a universe in which every decision is made differently? That really is in a parallel universe!