Last February, we blogged about the theory that the universe may not, in fact, be three-dimensional, but might rather be merely a holographic projection. Now, it seems that the Fermilab particle astrophysicist who proposed this theory is building a device with which to test it. From Fermilab’s blog:
Black hole physics, in which space and time become compressed,
provides a basis for math showing that the third dimension may not exist
at all. In this two-dimensional cartoon of a universe, what we perceive
as a third dimension would actually be a projection of time intertwined
with depth. If this is true, the illusion can only be maintained until
equipment becomes sensitive enough to find its limits.“You can’t perceive it because nothing ever travels faster than
light,” says Hogan. “This holographic view is how the universe would
look if you sat on a photon.”Not everyone agrees with this idea. Its foundation is formed with
math rather than hard data, as is common in theoretical physics. And
although a holographic universe would answer many questions about black
hole physics and other paradoxes, it clashes with classical geometry,
which demands a universe of smooth, continuous paths in space and time.
“So we want to build a machine which will be the most sensitive
measurement ever made of spacetime itself,” says Hogan. “That’s the
holometer.”
Read the whole article here, and be confused.
