The multiverse theory, which was introduced in the 1980s, suggests that universes, other than our own, exist as part of a much larger multiverse.
Multiverse Theory And Dark Energy
The idea provides an explanation why dark energy in our universe is lower than expected.
Dark energy is the mysterious force that affects the expansion of the universe and accounts for about 70 percent of its total energy.
Scientists consider the not-large-enough amount of dark energy as the lucky factor that allows life to exist in our universe.
They predict that if there were more dark energy than the currently low amount that exists in our universe, the universe would expand so fast matter could not form into planets, galaxies and stars.
It means that rest of the multiverse, which has much more dark energy than our universe, would not allow life to exist.
Life Could Be Common Throughout The Multiverse
Findings of a new study, however, suggest that other universes in the multiverse may not be as inhospitable to life as previously believed.
Using computer simulations of the cosmos, researchers showed that life could be potentially common throughout the multiverse if it indeed exists.
They found that adding dark energy up to hundred times the amount present in our universe would have a modest effect on star and planet formation.
"We find that dark energy, at its observed value, has a negligible impact on star formation in the Universe. We study these effects beyond the present day by allowing the simulations to run forward into the future," the researchers reported.
The findings were published in two separate studies in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
"Even increasing dark energy many hundreds of times might not be enough to make a dead universe."
Problem For The Multiverse Theory
The researchers, however, admitted that the results were unexpected and could cause problems as these cast doubt on the ability of the multiverse theory to explain the low value of dark energy in the observable universe.
"The Multiverse was previously thought to explain the observed value of dark energy as a lottery - we have a lucky ticket and live in the Universe that forms beautiful galaxies which permit life as we know it," said study researcher Luke Barnes, from Western Sydney University.
"Our work shows that our ticket seems a little too lucky, so to speak. It's more special than it needs to be for life. This is a problem for the Multiverse; a puzzle remains."
