SporeWiki:Fiction Universe/Important Topics/Hyperspace

Hyperspace, also known as subspace is a physical region of the universe which has unusual properties that are accessible to technologically advanced societies.

Where is it
It is a common misconception to the public that hyperspace is a large dimension outside the universe. However, the concept of "outside" does not stand up to a universe that may have always existed, at least in another form as a boundless sea of energy. Other universes do exist, but are part of this structure, which is a 'landscape' of physical symmetries; some of them stable enough to spawn universes and some of them complex enough for observers.

This was one-such universe; a fluctuation in the boundless sea caused "inflation" which for some reason unfolded only three spacetime dimensions, with higher dimensions of the symmetry landscape becoming rolled up at the planck-length. These extra-dimensions are still part of the universe (inside it rather than outside it) and apply new metric coordinates to the usual three.

Properties
At high energies approaching the planck-length, it becomes possible to interact with hyperspace. The size of these dimensions is small, but contains more degrees of freedom so a spacecraft engaging in hyperspace would be able to step* into the new metric coordinate and skip around vast distances compared to the large three dimensional universe.

Extra degrees of freedom have an effect on particle physics. Virtual radiation can occupy much higher energy levels due to being less confined or under tension. There are also more generations of quarks and leptons. Regions of subspace have been identified, with physics correlating with the symmetry landscape. Certain phenomena such as hyperspace stars have been discovered. Gravity has the ability to extend into the extra dimensions, and it is thought that dark matter in either region might be caused by mass in both realspace and hyperspace.

*Contrary to popular belief, the small dimensions are not inflated, because to do so would approach distances in the three dimensional universe. However it is possible to build wormholes using this technique.