Reality. The Scale of the Universe. Top Ten Astronomy Pictures of 2008. Science's Alternative to an Intelligent Creator: the Multiverse Theory. Prove It Linde’s recent research has helped solidify the connection between string theory and the multiverse.
Some physicists have long embraced the notion that the extra dimensions of string theory play a key role in shaping the properties of new universes spawned during eternal chaotic inflation. When a new universe sprouts from its parent, the concept goes, only three of the dimensions of space predicted by string theory will inflate into large, full-blown, inhabitable spaces. The other dimensions of space will remain essentially invisible—but nonetheless will influence the form the universe takes. Linde and his colleagues figured out how the invisible dimensions stayed compact and went on to propose billions of permutations, each giving rise to a unique universe.