This piece of conceptual art has a little something extra going for it. In 1957, physicist Hugh Everett formulated what is called the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) of quantum mechanics. Everett's work came as a response to the dissatisfaction felt by many physicists with the idea that subatomic events happen in a purely probablistic way. According to Everett, when a subatomic system consisting of a superposition of two likely states reduces to just one, the universe has "forked" into two distinct universes. MWI adherents would say that every possible outcome to every event exists in its own version of the universe.

After using the above prototype to make uncounted unverses, Mr. Keats felt the need to share. "Creating all those universes seemed a little selfish," he confides.

I had the opportunity to briefly interview Jonathan Keats via email.

Technovelgy: When did you settle on the idea of a do-it-yourself universe kit?

Jonathon Keats: All of my art projects are thought experiments, in which I encourage others to explore big ideas with me - conundra that I can't unravel alone. I attempt to accomplish this by creating scenarios in which those ideas are physically embodied, whether in a building (as in the Atheon) or a machine (as in the universe generator). In this case, I was interested in considering the implications of Hugh Everett's many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, which in the past several years has come to scientific and public prominence.

The kits, which I developed over the last year, are intended to make the exploration hands-on. If Everett's interpretation is right, anyone with a few minutes to spare can literally subdivide the universe - effectively making two (or more) worlds from one - by putting together a couple simple components with a bit of chewing gum. The process is deliberately mundane, and, as you'll see from the photos, the generator itself is pedestrian in appearance. At a glance, the universe kit is manifestly absurd, but so too is Everett's interpretation. Only upon further consideration does the notion of quantum mechanics at a macro scale, with the implication of multiple parallel universes, become profound.


(Universe Kit ready for sale [credit: Keats])

Technovelgy: Please discuss some of the science behind your kit.

Jonathon Keats: Everett's theory addressed the question of how a subatomic particle can exist in a quantum superposition - for example being in two places at once - until someone observes it, at which point the observer finds it to be in only one place at a time. The explanation Everett gave is that the particle remains in both places when it's observed, but the observer's entire universe splits as the measurement is made, so that from that moment forward there are two separate observers living in separate universes, both identical except for the observed location of that single subatomic particle.

The kit uses a quarter-inch sphere of uranium-doped glass to provide a steady supply of subatomic particles, placed in close proximity to a sliver of scintillating crystal which measures the radioactive decay, effectively observing a quantum process - and splitting the universe.

Technovelgy: Of course, I'm curious if you did any related sf reading.

Jonathon Keats: 'm very interested in science fiction, and in a way my art derives from the same impulse as stories by Asimov or Gibson. Like them, I'm interested in reflecting on our own world by standing back and asking 'What if…?' The difference is that the narratives I create are open-ended, evolving as people encounter them and interact with them, whether physically or through the blogosphere. Perhaps you could call it live-action sci-fi.

By the way, I certainly don’t want to imply that the above approach is superior to sci-fi in any way. In fact I believe strongly enough in fiction to write it myself. Not sci-fi, but fables set once upon a time. Random House will be publishing my newest work, called "The Book of the Unknown" early next year:

Technovelgy: As far as future plans are concerned, have you really submitted a plan to install two-mile-long scintillating crystal stacks into Yucca mountain?

Jonathon Keats: When I started to produce the kits, I formed a company called Universes Unlimited. In keeping with the capitalist mandate to expand, I was naturally inclined to begin building factories that could fabricate universes at an industrial scale. The U.S. government's proposed Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository seemed to be an ideal site for the first of these plants, since the radioactivity of the dump could be repurposed to make new worlds. Moreover I figured that the government would benefit: Now that we've pretty well destroyed this world, generating a googolplex of alternate universes with a googolplex of possible outcomes could be our only chance at redemption.

I'm working on a proposal now, which I'll be sending to the Department of Energy in the next couple weeks. The crystal stacks will look like chimneys protruding from the landscape, glowing in the night.

It consisted of two twelve-foot metal disks with grid-like surfaces, one on the floor and one on the ceiling directly over the other. They were connected by cables to the electrical machinery, and their grid-like surfaces shone faintly with wan blue light or force.

Between the two disks, floating unsupported in the air, hung a cloud of tiny sparks of light. It looked like a swarm of minute golden bees, countless in number, and the swarm was lenticular in shape. Mounted near this weird thing were several instruments that looked a little like telescopes, though unfamiliar in design. They seemed to be trained on that thick little cloud of shining sparks...

"Fessenden's eyes had been following my stupefied change of expression. He said calmly, "Yes, Bradley, it is true. That is a tiny, self-sustaining universe, with its own suns, nebulae and worlds. Everything in it, down to the atoms which compose it, is infinitely smaller in scale than our own. But it is a real universe, like our own."
(Read more about Hamilton's miniature universe)

Philip K. Dick had similar thoughts in his 1953 story The Trouble With Bubbles.

The Worldcraft bubble glittered, catching the light...

Lora turned on the bubble. It glowed, winking into brilliance...

She increased the magnification, bringing the microscopic central planet into focus...

Again Lora increased the magnification. The central planet grew, showing a pale green ocean lapping faintly at a low shoreline. A city came into view, towers and broad streets, fine ribbons of gold and steel. Above, twin suns beamed down, warming the city. Myriads of inhabitants swarmed about their activities...
(Read more about Dick's Worldcraft Bubbles)

Mr. Keats is generously making his do-it-yourself universe kits available for just $20; they will be sold exclusively through Modernism Gallery in San Francisco. A grand opening has been scheduled for Thursday, November 20th from 5:30 to 8:00 PM.

(Universe Kits ready for sale [credit: Keats])