Parallel Worlds

A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos

De: Michio Kaku

Narrado por: Marc Vietor

Is our universe dying?

Could there be other universes?

In Parallel Worlds, world-renowned physicist and best-selling author Michio Kaku - an author who "has a knack for bringing the most ethereal ideas down to earth" (Wall Street Journal) - takes listeners on a fascinating tour of cosmology, M-theory, and its implications for the fate of the universe.

In his first book of physics since Hyperspace, Michio Kaku begins by describing the extraordinary advances that have transformed cosmology over the last century and particularly over the last decade, forcing scientists around the world to rethink our understanding of the birth of the universe and its ultimate fate. In Dr. Kaku's eyes, we are living in a golden age of physics, as new discoveries from the WMAP and COBE satellites and the Hubble space telescope have given us unprecedented pictures of our universe in its infancy.

As astronomers wade through the avalanche of data from the WMAP satellite, a new cosmological picture is emerging. So far the leading theory about the birth of the universe is the "inflationary universe theory", a major refinement on the big bang theory. In this theory our universe may be but one in a multiverse, floating like a bubble in an infinite sea of bubble universes, with new universes being created all the time. A parallel universe may well hover a mere millimeter from our own.

The very idea of parallel universes and the string theory that can explain their existence was once viewed with suspicion by scientists, seen as the province of mystics, charlatans, and cranks. But today physicists overwhelmingly support string theory and its latest iteration, M-theory, as it is this one theory that, if proven correct, would reconcile the four forces of the universe simply and elegantly and answer the question "what happened before the big bang?"

Already, Kaku explains, the world's foremost physicists and astronomers are searching for ways to test the theory of the multiverse using highly sophisticated wave detectors, gravity lenses, satellites, and telescopes. The implications of M-theory are fascinating and endless. If parallel worlds do exist, Kaku speculates, in time - perhaps a trillion years or more from now, as appears likely - when our universe grows cold and dark in what scientists describe as a big freeze, advanced civilizations may well find a way to escape our universe in a kind of "interdimensional lifeboat".

An unforgettable journey into black holes and time machines, alternate universes, and multidimensional space, Parallel Worlds gives us a compelling portrait of the revolution sweeping the world of cosmology.

©2006 Michio Kaku (P)2016 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"In Parallel Worlds, Michio Kaku brings his formidable explanatory talents to bear on one of the strangest and most exciting possibilities to have emerged from modern physics: that our universe may be but one among many, perhaps infinitely many, arrayed in a vast cosmic network. With deft use of analogy and humor, Kaku patiently introduces the reader to variations on this theme of parallel universes, coming from quantum mechanics, cosmology, and most recently, M-theory. Read this book for a wonderful tour, with an expert guide, of a cosmos whose comprehension forces us to stretch to the very limits of imagination." (Brian Greene, Professor of Theoretical Particle Physics, Columbia University, and author of The Fabric of the Cosmos and The Elegant Universe)

"Those who might enjoy a tour of cosmology, time travel, string theory, and the universe in 10 or 11 dimensions will find no better guide than Michio Kaku, a rare individual who has undertaken research in these subject areas yet also knows well how to present this intriguing, complex material in an engaging and easily assimilable style." (Donald Goldsmith, author of The Runaway Universe and Connecting with the Cosmos)

"A highly readable and exhilarating romp through the frontiers of cosmology." (Martin Rees, author of Our Cosmic Habitat and Our Final Century)

A complete masterpiece of modern thoughts

This book was fascinating because not only did it clearly layout complicated scientific theories in a easy to understand why, it also left the sense of awe and wonder which so much of this genre of literature is devoid of. Although the author's opinion and views we're clear it was not opinionated. he laid out the different lines of thought and took them to their logical conclusion through each perspective. I would recommend anyone that is interested in physics for its own sake or one who is curious about the philosophical and Theological implications of the grand discoveries which it is made to read this book. If I could tell Michio Kaku thank you face to face for all of his great work I would.

Thought-provoking

I was familiar with nearly all the topics discussed in the book, yet still the author did a great job of disseminating the topics and ideas he discusses. The author frequently references books and movies which is great, however, he was strangely incorrect when he referenced the movie The Matrix, and said that aliens created the simulation. Clearly he was either not paying attention to The Matrix, never saw it, or even worse is just plain wrong about his interpretation of what he saw. What is concerning to me is that if he could get a simple thing like that wrong, how much more of this book is wrong. Even so, I enjoyed the book as I've enjoyed many books by the author.

Fascinating view on our past present and future

Beautifully narrated, simply explained to a dummy like myself and the narrative is breathtaking. This was my first Audible experience and now i'm hooked!

Great

Good narration and subject matter is quite detailed and as interesting as it can get without too much math.

riveting. understandable. but not detailed

I loved this book. I haven't read very much physics since the 80's and wanted to catch up on what has been learned and developed in the realm of cosmology and physics , relativity and quantum theories. this provided a good review of those areas and recent ideas. enjoyable.

Very Insightful and Awe Inspiring

whilst a little outdated for having listened to it in 2018 (published in 2005) the information was delivered concisely and arranged in a way that is very engaging to the listener.

*High Five* I love to learn from Michio Kaku

I loved it. Michio Kaku is far and away my favorite physicist author and television personality. NGT is solid and way up there, but for me, the way Kaku frames hi is stories and weaves life stories, quotes, and everything else into a straight and methodical explanation of whatever topic.

I also like that each of his books stand alone. You don't need to have read Parralel Worlds to enjoy his other books which involve string theory.

Given that this is one of his older books, 2005, it's fun having read his later works. You get to see what has changed and been realized now that we are "in the future."

Kudos Kaku - I can't wait for your new book, The Future of Humans!

Great Book

Great way of putting advaced physics into terms almost anybody can understand.

Some chapters contain a lot content from other books of the author, so it's kind of redundant to hear the same in a new book.

Overall it is a very recommend book.

Don't let the subject matter put you off!

let's face it, it's very obscure and esoteric stuff. so it is a great credit to the author of that i understood much much more then I ever expected to. it is beautifully written and the narration is the most clear and pleasing to the ear that I have so far found on Audible.

I would definitely recommend it and I will definitely reread it.

Starts to bridge the link between science and esoteric thought

Great subject matter. Broke down a lot of complex topics to make them understandable. It is starting to make the new ideas in modern science sound more like science fiction or magic.