The concept of a “multiverse” has gained recent popularity in pop media. Major motion pictures deal with the topic, including last year’s hit animation, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. But award-winning Harvard physicist Cumrun Vafa does not rule out the existence of parallel universes as mere science fiction.
“I think we have learned, amazingly, that simple ideas in math and mathematical consistency lead us a huge distance into the future,” says the Hollis Professor of Mathematicks and Natural Philosophy in the Physics Department at Harvard.
In a debate with other experts, Vafa argues that String Theory – which itself is a form of applied mathematics – indicates the possibility of a nearly infinite multiverse. Spider-Man may be onto something.
Cumrun Vafa Cites His Iranian Heritage as Inspiration
While Vafa has published or co-published over 300 academic papers and received many awards, many of his ideas remain controversial. Vafa admits that many of colleagues find String Theory itself unlikely and even ridiculous – much less a multiverse.
But the doubters do not faze Vafa. The established physicist cites his heritage as part of the source behind his unusual academic approach.
“When an Iranian approaches a given problem in science, her viewpoints might be slightly different from somebody that comes from, say, a US culture, or Japanese culture, or French culture,” he explains.
“There are different viewpoints, and bringing different viewpoints is always useful. Now, the very fact that in modern science Iranian scientists are under-represented means that there are few of us who bring that other new viewpoint, the viewpoint of the Iranian culture, into scientific discussions. And so in that sense I can bring a viewpoint which is kind of unique in many ways when I discuss some problem with my colleagues.”
Cumrun Vafa Loves Science, Not Recognition
Vafa accepts that he will not always agree with his colleagues. But he does appreciate the climate of collaboration and respect in his field.
“We certainly don’t do science to get approval,” he says. “But it’s a great feeling to see eminent colleagues appreciate our work. It’s tremendously satisfying.”
Indeed, the Iranian-American scientist has made quite a name for himself. He has received a dozen high-profile awards and recognitions, including the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2017.
“For me, the most beautiful aspects of physics are not the complicated math equations or even the ability of predicting how things will happen,” he explains. “What attracts me to physics is what it teaches us about the bigger picture.”
What the Multiverse Says About Our Universe
Few things seem as “big picture” as a theory of the multiverse. But Vafa is more interested in what the multiverse means for our own existence.
“Infinity might mislead us to think ‘whatever you want goes, just pick your universe’,” says Vafa. “But not so fast.”
For Vafa, the potential existence of infinite universes does not mean that anything – or everything – goes. Rather, he wants to discover the consistencies between potential universes.
“The hope is, by finding some general properties about all of them, perhaps we can see some general lessons about our own.”
