Can a Universe Create Itself Out of Nothing?

In his most recent book, The Grand Design, famous British Physicist Stephen Hawking asserts that a universe can and will create itself out of nothing. His conclusion, which seems to counter some of his earlier thoughts on the subject, is that God is not necessary for creation.

Enter Dr Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist at C.U.N.Y. and a popular radio host and television personality. Dr Kaku explains that the universe is really a multiverse--several universes sharing the cosmos. These universes are like soap bubbles in a cosmic bathtub: bubbles have a fixed amount of matter even when they are expanding; the forces of acceleration and gravity are working to control the shape of the bubbles; the bubbles can inflate slowly or rapidly, attach to other bubbles and deform, deflate and collapse, or burst, returning their matter to the bathtub.

In this model, one can imagine universes forming and moving through a life-cycle pretty much on their own in a manner consistent with string theory. Matter is conserved and forces are balanced. It's really quite elegant. As for the source of the soap, or the water, or the tub, or the energy that put the whole thing into motion, well, Dr Kaku leaves that question up to our imaginations.

More is available here: Dr Kaku's Universe

With a tip o' the hat to Renee T.

Note that I added "Big Think," the host site for Dr Kaku's blog, to my Link List. Check it out and enjoy.