This site claims to sell parallel universes:

 

http://www.youruniverse.co.uk/

 

They say it's all based on real science.

 

You can read about the 'science' behind it on their science page.

 

Can anyone tell me if there is any truth to the claim that this is based on real science?

only on a vague and wrong drastic oversimplification of real science.

 

what they are actually selling is a bit of paper saying you own something that is not only un-ownable but you will never be able to interact with, ever.

Man... if it's not Illeagal, I still think we should start taking advanced orders for the first teleportation machines. We can sell them for a £25,000 deposit with the promise that they will be given first refusal to buy when we finally finish our working prototypes. We can say the deposits will go toward our continued research into perfecting our designs. Can anyone here design us a website??

Damn, I sit here wondering how to pay my rent and these guys are selling universes. I knew being honest would be a bummer eventually.

Well now wait a minute. Why would I pick a universe that I have to buy from those guys? Why wouldn't I just travel to one I already own?

 

Eh, forget it. I guess I'll just keep doing my best to "customize" this universe.

According to the interpretation they're using to peddle their "wares," your decision to buy or not to buy creates a new universe. So save your money.

OK - I have now purchased this universe.

 

Your rent is due on Monday.

Sounds like a Vernor Vinge novel, doesn't it?

 

He published a SF novel in 2007 called "Rainbow's End" in which everyone walks around with special VR equipment that effectively creates what he called "mediated reality". What you see, hear, etc, may be very different from what the person standing next to you perceives.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbows_End

 

Obviously not the same thing, but it seems to serve a similar purpose.

OK - I have now purchased this universe.

 

Your rent is due on Monday.

 

I note that one can name one's purchase.

 

What did you call this universe?

I note that one can name one's purchase.

 

What did you call this universe?

 

Severia

I would have gone with Super Fun Land.

I just got my rent notice. You should have called it Severiexpensive.

OK - I have now purchased this universe.

 

Your rent is due on Monday.

 

It's a scam — you bought a cheap knockoff (like those Bolex watches)

Well I've just purchased, (and now master of) my Universe. I'm in the process of painting my cat green, and have bought a blonde bob wig from e-bay...I'm sure Pangloss will appreciate my new 'look'.

I just got my rent notice. You should have called it Severiexpensive.

 

Groan

I will even sell you asteroid insurance in your new universe.

Sorry Severian, an alternate of me in another Universe bought this Universe weeks ago! If it's any consolation, I was supposed to in turn buy his Universe from here as well, but your alternate there beat me to it.

 

Deed collisions are mathematically highly probable. Since this site probably exists in a great many parallel universes, and each one sells say, 100 parallel universes, double-deeding is bound to occur.

 

Maybe we could sell coins that (albeit in an alternate universe) always land on heads.

There's a seller on eBay called Severicheap who is auctioning a universe.

 

Hey!

While there may be some truth to the science, they don't own the alternate universes and can't sell them to you. Also, you will never see or otherwise interact with the universes they claim to be selling.

 

I'm opening an auction for God's pinky finger. Any bids?

I bid 300 quatloos for the newbiverse!

Selling something which is causally disconnected from our universe... brilliant!