“The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”
     —Eden Phillpotts, English science-fiction writer (1862-1960)

“We are not alone.”

It’s a familiar sentiment, usually expressed by someone making a case for the existence of life on other planets. But there’s a growing school of thought that says we are not alone not simply because there’s life on other planets, but because there are alternate universes to be found within our own that are every bit as real, though invisible to our eyes.

Huh?

It’s one of the theories springing out of cosmology and physics these days, the idea that fully realized alternate worlds may actually exist alongside our own, imperceptible to us yet occupying the same space in a way that we are only just beginning to understand. Now, you won’t find a satisfying explanation of this theory here, because, quite frankly, I’m about as humbled by the idea as you are. But you will receive at least a solid primer on the subject from History’s one-hour documentary special Parallel Universes, airing this month as part of History Classroom.

The subject matter is weighty, to be sure, but the program itself is designed for lay consumption, and is appropriate for high school students. Its application to various courses in science is obvious, but math teachers may also want to consider Parallel Universes as a way of demonstrating the important role math plays in understanding reality. As has been said, mathematics is the language of physics, and from string theory to quantum mechanics, none of the ideas in this program would have made it off the launching pad without math.

And speaking of launching pads, the documentary serves as an excellent point of departure for follow-up classroom discussion and extended activities. All exploration begins with questions, after all, and Parallel Universes is sure to raise many.

Here’s one that just occurred to me: If alternate realities do exist, are the people who live in them wondering about us too?