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Physics

A photon caught in two places at once could destroy the multiverse

The idea of a multiverse of universes is derived from a particular interpretation of quantum mechanics, but now a new twist on a classic experiment says it is time to put the idea to bed

By Alex Wilkins

26 May 2025

Is it time to say goodbye to the multiverse?

SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images

An advanced version of the famous double-slit experiment has directly measured a single photon in two places at once – or at least, that’s the claim made by a team of physicists who say these results could destroy the concept of a multiverse. This interpretation remains highly contested, however, with other physicists arguing that the experiment can’t really tell us anything new about the nature of reality.

The double-slit experiment, first performed in 1801, has played a key role in the development of quantum mechanics. It shows…

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