Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 09:52:03 +0100
Subject: Boltzmann brains

space.newscientist.com/article/mg19426011.800-the-cosmos--ibeforei-the-big-bang.html

 Spikes in space-time

 There is another way to think about why our universe began in a highly ordered
 or "low entropy" state. In 2002, a group of physicists led by Leonard Susskind
 at Stanford University in California proposed that entities capable of observing
 the universe could arise via random thermal fluctuations, as opposed to the big
 bang, galaxy formation and evolution. This idea has been explored by others,
 including Don Page at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada.

 Some researchers argue that under certain conditions, self-aware entities in the
 form of disembodied spikes in space-time - "Boltzmann brains" - are more likely
 to emerge than complex life forms. Because they depend on fluctuations of
 particles, Boltzmann brains would be more common in regions of high entropy than
 low entropy. If the universe had started out in a state of high entropy, it would
 be more likely to be populated by Boltzmann brains than life forms like us, which
 suggests that the entropy of our early universe had to be low. As a low-entropy
 initial state is unlikely, though, this also implies that there are a huge number
 of other universes out there that are unsuitable for us.

 From issue 2601 of New Scientist magazine, 28 April 2007, page 28-33

----------------------------------------------------

              FURTHER REFERENCES

 GO - "search perceptions" - in SEARCH-ENGINE


file-ID www.perceptions.couk.com/uef/boltzmann-brains.txt