Even if cosmic multiverse theories turn out to be bunk — probably not — it’s worth considering that we live in at least a few multiverses already. You might say that the narrow band of visible light that allows the set of things we can see with our eyes creates one universe out of many possible, and you might also think about universes of scale, that as creatures averaging between five and six feet tall, our universe isn’t “complete,” or it’s one of many possible. There are creatures like the fairyfly, ranging from .10 to .17 mm long, that live in a much different universe, or there’s viruses, ranging from five to 300 nanometers. Of course, as you get smaller, you’re also shifting dramatically in terms of brain power (from highly intelligent to zero) and perceptual ability, so there’s that. In any case, you should find this .gif illustrating my point about universes of scale well enough. It’s a bacterium hanging out on a single diatom (a variety of single-celled algae) hanging out on an amphipod (a variety of very tiny crustacean).
This comes courtesy of the pretty great science blog It’s Okay To Be Smart, which had a pivotal hand in the spread of another crucial science vid this week that you’ve almost certainly already seen: squid flesh bouncing along to “Insane in the Membrane.” If not, then clickclick click. It’s a good time.
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