Seasons

Look, a point has width and length, so from a top/bottom view, you could see it. But look at it from the side, and you could not. Therefore, yes, you could stack infinite on top of another without taking up any depth, because 0+0=0.

Ok what I was getting at is the *concept* of a point has no higher dimensions, but if you see a point on a page, it obviously is 3D because even though the ink used to print it is really thin, it's still depth. We have a lot of concepts that are pretty much useless except to develop equations with because when you try to put em in the real world they contradict themselves.

Any of you guys ever read The Boy Who Reversed Himself? It's a pretty interesting view of dimensions, even though it's only some young adult fluff. It basically says that any dimension appears to be a 'slice' of the dimension above it, like 2D is a slice of 3D. So theoretically if a 2D being was put into 3D and turned around, when it returned to 2D it could be reversed or turned inside out or something.

Personally, I don't know why there can't be infinite dimensions. If the universe is infinite, why can't dimensions be? Although, get enough dimensions and a LOT could fit into a small physical space, because you'd have all sorts of alternate realities and such. But of course, even if the universe only has 10 dimensions like the Prof said, since we only know how to percieve 4 at most without getting into math, how can we say we're right about anything? It looks like that from our point of view, but what's to say our point of view has anything to do with how reality actually is? Humans are so egotistical that way, assuming that we know what we're doing.

STRMKirby, a point does not have width or length. By definition, a point only has a location.

Here's the definition of a point: A dimensionless geometric object having no properties except location.

Time is not a dimension, but we are beings that move freely in the 3rd dimension and (for the most part) linearly in the 4th. So the 4th dimension acts like time to us. For everyday use and conception, I don't think more than 5 dimensions are necessary (5th dimension you could call "possibility"), but superstring utilizes a higher number (it's still not clear, Prof, that it's exactly 10).

As for time travel, time travel to the future is extremely possible, and time travel to the past is definitely possible in theory though so far the only time machine we've invented is probably impossible to survive a trip on.

One interesting question is whether time travel to the past has a limited carrying capacity.

Oh, and to OnyxFlame -- sure , there *could* be infinite dimensions, but if everything that happens in the universe can be explained with 10, then we wouldn't need to postulate the existence of others.

hey, how ya doin?

Mr. Crab: Everything that happens in the universe, or everything WE can perceive happening in the universe? There's a big difference. For instance, there might be infinite alternate timelines and such but how would we ever be able to tell if they were actually there? And what about so-called psychic phenomena? It's entirely possible that the few actual psychic incidents that happen are related to some aspect of reality that we don't currently know about. So yeah, maybe 10 dimensions or so can explain everything we know about, but think how much there is that even if we knew everything it was possible to know, would still be inaccurate compared to the way things really are. It's like a 1 dimensional being trying to measure an apple.

Here's a simple explanation that I use to keep my mind from getting too boggled at times like these: It's hard to imagine what you can't imagine.

*runs down the street chasing the conversation that flew over my head* Get back here!!!

*trips does a summer salt and lands on butt, brushes off dirt and goes back to chasing conversation*

Hey Fairy Queen.. I see you!