Relaxing to Three Dimensions is the curious title of a new article that sits squarely at the intersection of physics and philosophy. Just published in the respected journal Physical Review Letters, Rt3D addresses that hoary question of why things are the way they are, dimensionally-speaking. The article purports to demonstrate why this universe of ours leans towards the numbers three and seven as its preferred number of spatial dimensions. Basically the authors are saying that those other dimensions were much more likely to annihilate themselves via brane-antibrane collisions during the course of the universe’s evolution. We’re living on a 3-brane world, but perhaps trapped in one of many 7-branes populating the universe. The good news is that the chances of our bumping into an anti-3-brane and consequently being wiped out, are low, but not zero…at least according to the authors.
Relaxing to Three Dimensions - by Andreas Karch – University of Washington & Lisa Randall – Harvard University, August 31, 2005
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3 and 7 are also important recurring numbers in religious texts and world literature, even fairy tales. Something to ponder.
I like living in a 3-brane world. 7 branes would overload my brain.