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COINCIDENCE FIVE, Page 2: HIGHER DIMENSION DILEMMA

alschroeder

on Feb. 16, 2014

See? What did I say last time? 3 large space dimensions and one large time dimension is about the only combination in which intelligent life can arise.
The philosopher Immanual Kant was the first to realize the connection between the number of dimensions in space and the inverse-square law, and how it would differ if the number of spatial differed.
Hmmm. If fifth-dimensional information processing is always distorted—no WONDER Superman could trick Myztlplk so easily into saying his name backwards and returning to the Fifth Dimension for ninety days! It would be a wonder for any fifth-dimensional entity to think clearly at ALL.
Actually some particles in higher dimensional spaces might remain stable—but only in really, really low temperatures. Like not much above absolute zero. Conceivably some of Larry Niven's Helium II lifeforms might survive in such higher dimensonality…but then, through the wave-distortion problem of odd-numbered higher dimensons, their chances of becoming intelligent is much rarer. (See
Max Tegmark's "On the Dimensionality of Space Time" for not only a more detailed look at the effects of multiple time dimensions but a look at the spiraling problem in higher dimensional spaces.)
Recently, an explanation was offered : three researchers, associate professor at KEK Jun Nishimura, associate professor at Shizuoka University Asato Tsuchiya, and project researcher at Osaka University Sang-Woo Kim, used a supercomputer to generate a model of the universe’s birth based on superstring theory. Their results indicated at the moment of the Big Bang, the universe had 10 dimensions – 9 spatial and 1 temporal – but only 3 of these spatial dimensions expanded.
Partial explanation, at least. (But even if true, it only moves the coincidence involved back another step.) Maybe. Superstring theory still has a lot of hoops to jump through before it's anywhere near proved.