this post was submitted on 05 May 2025
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I know a question asking if Santa exists sounds childish but parallel universe theory is a thing. So even though Santa doesn't live at OUR north pole, does he live at the north pole in one of infinite parallel universes?

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[–] Fondots@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

To the best of my knowledge, the most common parallel universe theory that has any actual real traction in physics is the "many worlds interpretation"

Which is basically that any time some sort of quantum event is observed, the universe splits into multiple parallel universes where every possible outcome of that event is realized in its own universe.

Now people take that and run with it and make up all sorts of pseudoscience bullshit where those splits happen anytime someone makes a choice, or some pseudorandom event like a coin flip or die roll occurs. That's not really what it's about.

This is about wonky quantum physics, radioactive decay, collapsing wave function type stuff. I'll be honest this is high level physics shit, I only kind of understand some of it, which is more than probably 90+% of people out there can say, for most people it probably means about as much as if you came up to them and started talking to them in a foreign language.

So that means that all of those parallel universes are going to be following the same laws of physics since they all diverged from the same universe.

That means that flying reindeer and traveling around the world in a night delivering presents down chimney and such is probably a no-go.

As far as there being a universe where some weirdo named Santa Claus decided to live at the North Pole and build toys, maybe, but probably pretty unlikely. I have a pretty hard time imagining a version of the world where different quantum outcomes would lead to that. Would, for example, a single uranium atom decaying or not decaying make that happen? Probably not. Of course, untold millions of tiny events like that can eventually add up to some big difference, but I still have a hard time imagining a situation where that would be the outcome.

Like I think someone in this thread already said, there are an infinite amount of numbers between 0 and 1 (0.1, 0.2, 0.001234, etc,) but none of them are "2" some things are just impossible.

[–] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 26 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Here's the thing about "infinity."

There are an infinite number of possibilities between 1 and 2. 1.01, 1.001, 1.0001, etc etc. None of those infinite possibilities is 3.

[–] pebbles@sh.itjust.works 3 points 5 hours ago

True it would have to be physically grounded somehow. Maybe an obscure and uncharacteristically benevolent hyper rich fella sets up camp in the north pole.

I guess if we want Santa to exist historically it would take a religious level of interest and investment in ancient times. He would have to be reveared as a god and donated to. Then the organization can have the resources to get everyones Christmas list and send out presents on Christmas.

[–] Balthazar@lemmy.world 7 points 6 hours ago

So even though Santa doesn't live at OUR north pole...

Wait, what?!

[–] PurpleGameBoy@lemmy.zip 7 points 7 hours ago

If there are infinite parallel universes, then there is at least one where Santa is real. By the way, what did you smoke earlier?

[–] will_a113@lemm.ee 5 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

I believe in the Quantum Claus^TM^ theory - there’s just one guy, and he just makes one present for just one kid (on the nice list, which has at most just one name). But on Christmas Eve he exists in a superposition of states at every child’s house with every possible gift.

[–] Una@europe.pub 4 points 7 hours ago

Who says Santa is not real? Have you seen him? because I did and I personally helped him deliver presents one time (short route Canada-Finland) But yeah infinite universes does mean there are universes where he is real and those where he is not. Also possibly universes where he is both real and not real at the same time.

[–] jackalope@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago)

What do you think "parallel universe theory" is?

"many worlds hypothesis" in quantum physics is nothing like Sci fi "parallel universe" stuff. Sci fi is fiction. Don't get your understanding of science from Sci fi.

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

According to the quantum many-worlds interpretation, such a world would only exist if it could arise due to a random quantum fluctuation at some point in the past history of our own world—which doesn’t seem plausible in this case.

[–] jackalope@lemmy.ml 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

You are badly misunderstanding many worlds theory.

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 3 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

I’m using Wheeler’s version of the MWI, because it currently seems to be the most common one—but I think Wheeler’s version is a misunderstanding of Everett’s. So if that’s what you mean, I agree (although I’d say something like “the Everettian interpretation” instead of “many worlds theory”).