A Universe from Nothing?

The uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics is of extreme significance to those who theorize something from nothing, or a universe from nothing. The uncertainty principle states that a vacuum cannot be completely free of quantum fluctuations, because, if it were, there would be a position whose value and velocity are both defined at exactly zero. This is a violation of Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, which states that the position and velocity (or the field value and rate of change) cannot be accurately defined for a given quantum. The significance of there being quantum fluctuations in the vacuum—as far as these people are concerned—is that these words imply that empty space devoid of anything does produce something within our universe.

The truth is, even if it is proven by experimentation that a vacuum in our universe produces something from nothing, it is not possible to specify a true reason for a vacuum producing something from nothing, or, in other words, the quanta that appear and disappear in a vacuum, within the framework of our universe. Problems with quantum mechanics, probability, and the uncertainty principle have already been mentioned. One of the solutions was the Hugh solution, which hypothesizes that multiple universes exist and that the possibilities that do not materialize in our universe materialize in another.

Certain astronomers and theoretical physicists such as Stephen Hawking, Lawrence Krauss, and other enthusiasts of the “something from nothing” claim say that the universe appeared from nothing, without needing a god. They have built their foundation on a particular philosophical issue in quantum mechanics that has not been settled and has no evidence whatsoever: the elimination of causality. This is despite the knowledge that the multiverse theory is a strong competitor, and that unexplained gravity, for instance, can be an effect coming from another universe. The same is true with regard to the quantum fluctuations in the universe in which we live: there is no problem with these fluctuations being effects that come to us from other universes.

Moreover, in order to resolve the cosmological constant dilemma, as well as the probability dilemma (regarding our universe’s existence), those who seek to prove that the universe does not need to be set in motion by something external need to hypothesize the previously mentioned multiple universes.

Multiple universe hypotheses can conflict with the principle of eliminating causality in quantum mechanics, as it would be easy to say that quantum vacuum fluctuations are just effects of either an adjacent universe or of forces crossing multiple universes. Therefore, the foundation of Stephen Hawking, Lawrence Krauss and others regarding atheism is a crumbling and scientifically contradictory one.