AskScience: What do we call what holds multiple dimensions?
In science we attempt to classify everything. And everything seems to be a subset of something else. Planet is a part of a solar system, solar system is a part of a galaxy, galaxy is part of the universe, universe is a part of our dimension, etc.
Obviously there are exceptions to this, rogue planets, but we still consider them contained.
I understand the idea of multidimensions is theoretical, but if they exist, do we have a name or even a theory what might contain them?
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@ozoned
Not familiar with this concept of dimension tbh. I think that when one talks about something bigger than the Universe, they have a specific theory in mind, with its specific definition of what the universe is. Which theory do you take this notion of dimension from?
They are using the scifi-concept of dimension which has nothing to do with the mathematical or physical concept of dimension.
@PinkOwls
I thought "dimension" in scifi was meant as "universe", like a parallel dimension is a parallel universe. What is the difference between the two?
It sounds like you got it basically right, but now think about the sentence "the universe is a part of our dimension" which would mean "the universe is a part of our universe".
The scifi "dimension" is as meaningless as "plane of existence"; it just sounds nice when you want to explain things away in scifi. I mean, it seems to be easier in scifi to travel between those "dimensions" than between the Milky Way and any other galaxy in the visible universe.
Does not sound too meaningless to me, but I'm used to calling that a universe 😁
I'm trying ahah. But if you call the universe a dimension, which subpart of it do you call a universe? The observable universe maybe? I mean it makes sense to say that the observable universe is part of our universe. Still sounds strange the way it is presented by OP.
@PinkOwls
The math/physical concept of dimension does sometimes appear in scifi though, think about hyperspace.
Well my understanding was that according to string theory, we're existing in one of many different dimensions that all kind of mirror each other.
As someone pointed out earlier, I'm not talking like 2D vs 3D vs 4D. But actually mirrored realities.
@ozoned I see, but if you call a "reality" a dimension, what is it that you call a universe?