Dark Matter Science

Even though Jason doesn't work as a research scientist anymore, he still thinks like one, using the scientific method to understand the situation he finds himself in. As it turns out, this technique comes in quite useful.

Again, we see how science defines Jason's worldview. He might not be calculating the gravitational fields of black holes, creating complex algorithms, or inventing a machine that makes traversing the universe as easy as riding a bike, but he still uses those same skills to overcome his trials and tribulations.

On some level, Jason clings to his scientific worldview because it's a lot better for his mental health than otherwise. With the scientific method, he feels like he's actively working to solve his problems. Without it, he just feels adrift and confused.

Okay—now for the real science stuff. While the book's depiction of the multiverse might be a bit simplified, it's true that quantum physics postulates that there are an infinite number of parallel universes out there. Whoa. Guess those late-night chats in your dorm room weren't so far off after all.

This is an explanation of the thought experiment known as "Schrödinger's Cat." It goes like this: a cat is hidden inside a box with a vial of poison that has a fifty percent chance of killing it. The theory states that until we open that box, the cat is both alive and dead at the same time, and that it is the process of observation that determines its final state.

In other words, Jason is saying that parallel dimensions are always around us, but our brains are simply not developed in a way that allows us to see them. It's not as crazy as it sounds. After all, when's the last time you saw UV rays? Or when's the last time you took a gander at a proton? There are many aspects of our world that are completely imperceptible to us. You might even say most aspects of our world are imperceptible to us.

At a certain point, Jason becomes so shaken by his experiences inside the box that he loses his ability to think scientifically. We can't blame him one bit: what he's going through is way more emotionally taxing than a physics exam.

Even when he was a scientist, Jason always had some distance between him and the actual reality of theoretical physics. He could write down an equation that describes a black hole, for example, but he'd never be able to go inside one. Now, however, he's facing the complexities of the physical universe in an incredibly in-your-face kind of way.

This builds off the idea that our brains aren't evolved enough to comprehend the multiverse. The novel's depiction of the inside of the box—the endless hallway of doors—is there so that we can perceive something that probably doesn't actually exist in a physical sense. Instead, the inside of the box is more likely some cool swirl of mystical space energy, à la 2001: A Space Odyssey. Or maybe not. What do you think?

Okay, so this is probably the most pseudo-scientific part of the novel. We're on board when it comes to parallel dimensions and all of that fun stuff, but we find it hard to believe that our emotions are what guide us through them. But who knows? Stranger things are true. And after all, if it's the act of observation that makes things "real," then it's hard to argue that our emotions are not part of our powers of observation. Ever try observing something without experiencing any emotion at all? Yeah, it's never gonna happen.