Cool Fact 2: A Block Universe in Ten Dimensions

 The following post is based on a YouTube video by Beeyond Ideas. See the video here

While we are familiar with the three spatial dimensions (3D) of length, width, and height, what if there are additional dimensions that lie just outside our perception, yet still very much part of the cosmos? Hyperspace, as it’s called in physics, refers to a space of higher dimensions beyond our ability to perceive.

We are about to explore these hypothetical realms, a reality of the unknown, unseen, and unexperienced. This narrative blends physics, philosophy, and speculative ideas about higher-dimensional beings and the manipulation of reality, encouraging one to think beyond the boundaries of their current understanding. It challenges us to consider the implications of higher-dimensional awareness and how it might influence our perception of existence.

Time as a dimension

Our journey begins in the late 19th century with the work of the brilliant mathematician Hermann Minkowski, who, along with other scholars of the time, was trying to understand the fundamental structure of the universe. The groundbreaking work of physicists such as James Clerk Maxwell suggested that there was an intricate relationship between spatial dimensions and a pervasive, fundamental entity – time.

The turning point came with Albert Einstein’s publication of his special theory of relativity in 1905. His revolutionary theory proposed that space and time are not separate, independent entities, but are instead woven together into a single, unified fabric called spacetime. Inspired by Einstein’s ideas, Minkowski developed a geometric understanding of this concept, envisioning a four-dimensional spacetime continuum (4D), where time is treated as the fourth dimension alongside the familiar three spatial dimensions.

However, this was only the beginning. The laws of physics as we know them seem to require even more dimensions than just the four we are familiar with. To explore these higher dimensions, we turn to hyperspace, where the laws of physics align perfectly, as though they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

String theory, which aims to unify quantum mechanics and general relativity, suggests that our universe is made of tiny vibrating strings, existing in ten dimensions. These strings, each vibrating at its own frequency, give rise to the various particles and forces we observe. But in the 1995, physicist Edward Witten introduced an 11th dimension, suggesting that higher-dimensional objects, known as "branes" could exist and vibrate in this hyperspace. This idea implies that our entire universe might be a massive membrane vibrating within this higher-dimensional space.

Ed Witten made his key discovery involving branes in 11-dimensional hyperspace in 1995, during what became known as the "Second Superstring Revolution."

• In March 1995, at a conference at the University of Southern California, Witten proposed a unifying framework called M-theory.

       M-theory suggested that the five previously distinct superstring theories were actually different limits of a single 11-dimensional theory. Strings are just one aspect of a more general framework involving higher-dimensional objects.

• A crucial feature of M-theory was the introduction of branes—multi-dimensional objects (such as membranes or "2-branes", 5-branes, etc.)—as fundamental components alongside strings.
• In M-theory, 11 dimensions (10 space + 1 time) arise naturally, and branes can exist with various dimensionalities within this space.

As our understanding of the universe evolves, these extra dimensions may not be small or hidden – they could be vast and possibly infinite. Just as flies are trapped on sticky paper, we humans are confined to our universe, unable to perceive or interact with these higher dimensions. However, one force in the universe may help explain this: gravity.

Despite being one of the fundamental forces, gravity is surprisingly weak. Think about it – when you get up to go to the bathroom, you easily overcome the gravitational pull of the entire Earth. It could be that gravity leaks across these dimensional branes, offering an explanation for why its force is so weak in our universe.

We might actually be able to detect the presence of alternate universes, finding dark matter-like objects from other universes hovering just above ours.

Our exploration of hyperspace naturally leads us to consider a more mind-bending concept: the possibility of multiple dimensions of time.

Multiple Time Dimensions

John William Dunne, an Irish engineer and philosopher, introduced a thought-provoking idea regarding time. In the framework of general relativity, space and time merge into a block of spacetime. Dunne suggested that we may need additional time dimensions to measure our progression along individual timelines. For instance, if a person were inside a supermassive black hole, how would you know they experience time differently than we do?

Dunne speculated that there could be access to additional temporal dimensions, suggesting that an individual might experience time in ways far beyond the one-dimensional linear timeline we are familiar with. This concept leads to the idea of an infinite hierarchy of time dimensions, each inhabited by different levels of consciousness. At the top of this hierarchy would be a "superlative general observer" existing beyond time and able to perceive the entire continuum.

Key ideas from Dunne's theory:

• Block Universe (or Block Time): Inspired by the idea that time might be like space—where all moments (past, present, and future) coexist—Dunne envisioned a "block" of time that is already laid out, rather than flowing.
• Hierarchical Time (Serial Time): Dunne observed that conscious awareness seems to move through time. To explain this, he proposed a hierarchy of time levels:
• Time 1: Our ordinary timeline.
• Time 2: The consciousness observing Time 1 must also move in a higher time.
• Time 3, 4, ..., ∞: Each level of observer requires a new time to explain its motion—leading to an infinite regress.
• General Observer: At the top of this infinite hierarchy, Dunne postulated a timeless, all-encompassing consciousness—the General Observer—that sees all times at once.

His ideas were speculative and metaphysical, blending early ideas of relativity, precognitive dreams (which he tried to document), and philosophy of consciousness.

The Twin Paradox

Imagine two identical twins, Ace and Bob. Ace embarks on a journey into space aboard a high-speed spaceship, while Bob stays on Earth. When Ace returns, he is much younger than Bob, a consequence of time dilation predicted by Einstein’s theory of relativity. But let’s add a twist to this scenario.

Let’s assume that these twins not only share identical genetics, but also identical fates. This means that any genetic ailment that affects Bob will also affect Ace in due course. So, if Bob develops colon cancer at the age of 53, he can predict that Ace will experience the same disease at the same age. In this case, Bob, having experienced more time, can provide insights to his younger twin about the future, including the illnesses they will both face.

In this scenario, Bob’s aging process is effectively a higher temporal dimension (Time 2 in the hierarchical Time explained above) compared to Ace’s. This additional layer of complexity makes us rethink our understanding of time, causality, and existence itself. It’s a concept that forces us to reconsider the very nature of reality and how we perceive the passage of time.

Exploring Higher Dimensions

Alpha (3D): The World as we see it

We experience a tangible three-dimensional existence, but we perceive the world through two-dimensional inputs that our brain processes into a sense of depth. This concept has been explored by cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman, who suggests that what we see is not reality, but rather a user interface designed to help us navigate it.

If we extend this idea to beings in higher dimensions, such as those existing in the fourth dimension, these entities might perceive a 3D snapshot of their surroundings as a hologram within their minds. This expanded perspective would offer them a deeper understanding of reality, where time itself could be perceived as a navigable dimension. Such beings might be able to see the entire 3D world from a higher vantage point and, like the twin analogy, perceive the future of lower-dimensional beings.

Beta (4D): move through your timeline in a non-linear way

A Beta entity can move through its timeline in a non-linear way. Imagine being able to fast forward or rewind through specific moments of your life, reliving different events in any order.

This concept is reminiscent of the Tesseract scene from the movie Interstellar, where Cooper is able to access any point in time within his daughter’s bedroom. He’s not merely observing events unfold; he actively jumps between different moments in the room’s history.

Gamma (5D)

To truly grasp the bigger picture, we need to step into the Gamma dimension. Here, every moment, every decision, and every twist of fate is laid before the entity. Rather than merely interacting with reality, the Gamma being is an outsider who can view the entire chronology of events, no longer being in the simulation itself but viewing it from the outside. They see and hold the entire timeline in their grasp, offering a perspective that transcends the boundaries of time itself, even before that chronology is being played out. A Gamma being can dissect each frame/data point in an infinite number of ways. Gamma can respond to situations as they happen and implement small things such as better food throughout his/her life to change an outcome somewhat but cannot live through all the possibilities yet, thus altering his or her life completely.

The Gamma level of perception is quite restricted. Beings at this level see only a single potential outcome of any situation, perceiving just one possible path at a time. The ability to view or understand other possibilities does not exist in their awareness. They are essentially locked into one possible reality, experiencing events in a linear fashion.

For example, when deciding how to take a particular step, you can think through different possibilities, but only one specific scenario is actually visible to you in the moment. The awareness here is focused on present reality, seeing the unfolding of events in real-time without awareness of the greater network of possibilities.

Delta (6D): Full Awareness of All Possibilities

At the Delta level, perception expands far beyond just reacting to events—it involves visually seeing all possible outcomes at once. Delta perceives the entire network of possible events like a living map or an intricate web of possible realities stretching in all directions. They can view these divergent timelines and their subsequent consequences in parallel

Imagine a tree where every branch is a potential life path or decision. Entities at this level don’t just guess—they see each branch unfold clearly. Think of Doctor Strange in Infinity War, viewing 14 million futures to find the one path to victory. He wasn’t calculating probabilities—he was directly perceiving each reality. That’s the essence of Delta: total clarity over potential outcomes.

Epsilon (7D): Perceiving Alternate Beginnings

So far, all these paths start from the same point—what if that starting point changed?

Epsilon is the dimension where even tiny shifts in initial conditions lead to radically different realities—a direct application of chaos theory. Just like a butterfly’s flap can cause a storm, changing one small element at the start can rewrite everything that follows.

For example:

• If a child is born to different parents, their entire genetic makeup—and life—would differ.
• If a business began just three years earlier or with a different amount of capital, its trajectory might be completely different.
• Even the gravitational constant: if it were slightly stronger or weaker, stars might never form.

Beings at this level can perceive and explore alternate realities based solely on different beginnings. They're not stuck to a single timeline—they can investigate the many starting points of existence itself. In this dimension, exploring the varied possibilities of starting points would allow them to navigate through different realities based on subtle changes, giving them a sense of mastery over their life’s direction.

Lambda (8D): Mastery Over All Possible Origins

Now imagine being able to see all possible starting points at once, like reading every sheet in a cosmic library.

At this stage, an entity doesn’t just understand multiple timelines or beginnings—they can choose the optimal one. They have the wisdom to select:

• The exact business idea with the perfect amount of funding to succeed.
• The best parents to be born to.
• The most peaceful or fulfilling life trajectory.

Like the film Mr. Nobody, where the protagonist explores different lives based on different early decisions, a Lambda-level being doesn't just see all possible lives—they select the one that leads to their ideal outcome. In personal terms, they could decide which parents they are born to or choose the country or era in which they live, all to ensure the most peaceful and optimal life. It’s the level where vision becomes purposeful action. Lambda is not just about seeing multiple paths; it’s about actively choosing the best path from an array of potential beginnings, demonstrating a new level of control and intentionality.

Sigma (9D): Different Laws of Physics

At the Sigma level, even the laws of physics can change. Time may not be linear. Cause might not come before effect. Gravity could repel instead of attract.

In Tenet, characters experience time in reverse. Or imagine a universe where you age backwards—born old and grow young. These are not just imaginative scenarios; they’re possible under different physical laws.

Sigma is where the “rulebook” itself is flexible. Constants like the speed of light or the charge of an electron might differ across universes, creating entirely distinct realities and life forms. This level invites us to imagine realities where everything is up for redefinition.

Omega (10D): The Infinite View

The Omega level is the culmination of all previous dimensions. Here, entities are aware of an infinite number of realities—every possible timeline, every starting condition, and every variation of physical laws.

Omega represents complete and infinite consciousness. It’s the final frontier in this dimensional hierarchy, where everything that can exist does exist—and can be seen, understood, and navigated by beings who operate at this unimaginable level of awareness.

That what we believe to be our present is nothing more than the intersection of our consciousness with that dynamic configuration. In this sense, the 'now' is not a universal instant shared by all, but rather a localized and subjective event: the moment in which each observer experiences the unfolding of events according to their trajectory and their internal state.

In Einstein’s relativity, the idea of simultaneity becomes fluid: two observers in relative motion may disagree on whether two events occur at the same time. This dissolves the idea of a global present. Yet, we continue to feel as though we inhabit a flowing 'now' because our brains are wired to create that sensation as part of their model of the world. That sensation, however, is a cognitive construct rather than a reflection of physical reality.

In modern physics, particularly in the block universe view suggested by relativity, all events — past, present, and future — coexist. In the block universe, all moments simply are. There is no ontological distinction between moments; they are all equally real. What we call the passage of time is thus not something that happens to the universe but something that happens within our experience, shaped by memory, causality, and the asymmetries of entropy. We experience time as flowing because our consciousness moves through these moments in a specific order — and our memories accumulate only in one direction. This direction aligns with the increase of entropy, a key concept from thermodynamics. The future is different from the past not because of something inherent in time itself, but because of the statistical tendency for disorder to increase. Our brains construct a "now" by integrating sensory information and creating a coherent sense of continuity, which is necessary for survival and decision-making.

Thus, time has a dual nature:

• Physically, time is a dimension within the structure of spacetime, governed by relativity and without a privileged present or flowing nature.
• Experientially, time is a mental construct — the result of how conscious beings process change and causality.

Time, then, is both a structure of the universe and a projection of our perception, something we experience. To grasp this double nature of time is perhaps the first step toward a deeper comprehension of reality itself.

MY FAQ

1.        Is time only relative, or also subjective? Can higher dimensions explain time?

Time is both relative and subjective:

• Relative (physics): According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, time doesn’t flow at a fixed rate. It slows down depending on your speed and gravity — this has been measured (e.g., in GPS satellites).
• Subjective (experience): Our brain also shapes how we feel time. Boredom, adrenaline, trauma, or meditation can stretch or compress time in our minds.

Higher dimensions and time:

• Some theories (like string theory) suggest there may be 6–11 spatial dimensions. In those models, time is just one axis among others.
• The "block universe" idea sees past, present, and future as already existing — consciousness just moves through this block, creating the illusion of flow.

So, from a higher-dimensional perspective, time might not "flow" at all — we might only experience it that way due to our limited perception.

2.        Why can’t we re-experience or pause time like a DVD?

Because we can’t freely move through time like we do through space:

• Physics shows no mechanism for rewinding or pausing time. The arrow of time (caused by increasing entropy) always moves forward.
• Our memory lets us mentally "revisit" past events, but that’s not true time travel — it's just replaying information.

Some theories suggest all moments already exist (like still frames on a film reel), but we’re stuck experiencing them one by one.

3.        What is consciousness in relation to time and dimensions?

There are three main ideas:

1. Consciousness depends on time: In this view, the brain creates awareness through time-based processes. No time = no consciousness.
2. Consciousness creates time: Idealist theories say time is just a construct within consciousness — not something outside of it.
3. Higher-dimensional consciousness: If consciousness operates in a higher dimension, it might see all time at once, like we see a whole page instead of one word at a time. This would mean what we call “now” is just a narrow slice of a bigger structure.

4.       What is the current state of research on the subject of block universe?

Recent Developments in Block Universe Research incorporate:

1. Meta-Block Universe with Spotlight (Meta-BUwS) Model
   In January 2025, a novel framework called the Meta-BUwS was proposed. This model extends the traditional Block Universe by introducing a dynamic meta-level where consciousness can influence the structure of the block universe itself. While physical actions remain deterministic within the block universe, consciousness exerts genuine influence through mental orientation at a meta-level, preserving the appearance of determinism while allowing for real freedom.
2. Evolving Block Universe (EBU) Model
   The EBU model suggests that spacetime is not static but grows as new events occur, incorporating a passage of time into the block universe concept. This model aims to reconcile our experience of time's flow with the block universe framework. However, it faces challenges in defining the present moment and the nature of time's passage.
3. Public Perception Studies
   Research into public perceptions of time indicates that many people intuitively believe in an open future, aligning more with the Growing Block Universe theory than with the traditional Block Universe. These findings suggest that our intuitive understanding of time may not fully align with the block universe concept.

Criticisms and Counterarguments

1. Free Will Concerns
   A major criticism of the Block Universe theory is its implication that free will is an illusion, as all events are predetermined. This challenges our notions of moral responsibility and personal agency.
2. Time Travel Paradoxes
   The idea that all points in time are equally real leads to paradoxes, such as the grandfather paradox, where altering past events could lead to inconsistencies. These paradoxes raise questions about the coherence of the block universe model.
3. Quantum Mechanics Incompatibility
   Quantum mechanics introduces inherent uncertainties and probabilistic outcomes, which seem at odds with the deterministic nature of the Block Universe. This discrepancy suggests that the block universe model may not fully capture the complexities of quantum phenomena.

ADDENDUM: TIME DILATION (Einstein’s theory of special relativity)

Time dilation is a consequence of Einstein's theory of special relativity. It refers to the phenomenon where time appears to pass at different rates for observers in different frames of reference, especially at high velocities or in strong gravitational fields. There are two primary situations where time dilation occurs:

1. Velocity Time Dilation (Special Relativity)

In the framework of special relativity, time dilation occurs when an object is moving at a velocity close to the speed of light relative to an observer. According to the theory, the faster an object moves, the slower time passes for that object relative to a stationary observer.

• Key Equation:

$$\Delta t' = \frac{\Delta t}{\sqrt{1 - \frac{v^2}{c^2}}}$$

Where:

• Δt′ is the time interval as measured by the moving observer (the "dilated" time).
• Δt is the time interval as measured by the stationary observer (the proper time).
• V is the relative velocity between the two observers.
• c is the speed of light.
• Intuition:
• If an astronaut is traveling at 99% the speed of light, they will experience time passing much slower than people on Earth. For example, if they were to travel for 5 years (in their own frame of reference), decades could pass for people on Earth.
• \( \frac{5}{\sqrt{1 - 0.99^2}} \) = 35.44 years
• Example: A spaceship moving at 0.99c (99% of the speed of light) for one year of travel would experience only about 0.14 years (roughly 51 days) due to time dilation, while the Earth would experience a full year.

2. Gravitational Time Dilation (General Relativity)

Time dilation also occurs in the presence of strong gravitational fields, as described by general relativity. The closer an object is to a massive body (such as a planet or a black hole), the more spacetime is curved, and the slower time passes relative to an observer far away from the massive body.