Phenomenon 14: "Shifting Geometry"

Informational Notice

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Most information on this page pertaining to abnormal geometry in the Backrooms is currently unconfirmed and, in some cases, largely theoretical. Due to there being no current means of gathering more information about the phenomenon, it will likely remain this way for the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, this page is widely considered to be the most likely explanation of the phenomenon.

Description

A depiction of a wormhole, a hypothetical Frontrooms phenomenon where 4th-dimensional travel is possible. Note that this is a lower-dimensional (3d) representation and is thus not what it would actually look like.

Phenomenon 14, also informally known as 'Shifting Geometry', is a mostly geometrical phenomenon that applies 4th-dimensional geometry to the Backrooms. In instances where this phenomenon is present, walking in a straight line may bring one back to where they started, certain areas may be completely different than they were before, areas may be larger or smaller on the inside than on the outside, and even individual objects may reappear in different locations within the phenomenon's vicinity. While the former is an example of 4th-dimensional geometry, as opposed to the latter three being examples of actively shifting or impossibly disproportionate geometry, these otherwise different phenomena are all classified under Phenomenon 14 due to their similarly confusing aspects and strong relation to the concept of geometry. However, the former is also frequently subject to change, as the higher-dimensional shape of the respective area may inexplicably and instantaneously change at random intervals or even temporarily shift to Euclidean geometry, though it is unknown how this is possible.

A comparison of Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry.

The terms "non-Euclidean geometry" and "non-linear geometry" are often used as substitutes for "4th-dimensional geometry" in the context of Phenomenon 14. As shown in the image to the left, non-Euclidean geometry is charactarized by the curve of space, wherein if that curve led back to the other end, any lower-dimensional being travelling along this curve would inevitably end up right back where they started. Meanwhile, said being would be unable to perceive this curve due to being restricted to their dimension, hence why we cannot perceive the phenomenon as it truly is due to it being 4th-dimensional.

However, Phenomenon 14 is also well-known to cause instantaneous relocation, disappearance, or replacement of certain areas or objects, wherein any new areas created in the process would look similar but not quite the same. These new areas also follow the inherent 'theme' of whatever location they originated from, often leading them to be nigh-indistinguishable from areas that were already there.

Phenomenon 14 only occurs when one is not currently observing its shifting effects. If one tries to observe the shifting geometry, it will once more resolve into a certain shape. Because of this, it has been speculated that the phenomenon is influenced by the observer effect, an unconfirmed phenomenon first posited in the Frontrooms. The observer effect is the disturbance of a system from being observed and is usually believed to only occur at the quantum level. In theory, unobserved objects are initially simultaneously in multiple states of being (known as quantum superposition), but when observed, these states all fold into one another until only one remains.

However, researchers of the observer effect have suggested that observation could affect macroscopic systems as well. If this is the case with Phenomenon 14 — and if objects under the effects of the phenomenon are somehow able to regain their state of uncertainty after no longer being observed — this could explain the effects that observation has on the phenomenon.

Examples of Levels Affected

Below are examples of levels affected (and unaffected) by Phenomenon 14.

Levels affected by Phenomenon 14.

Levels Highly Affected	Levels Partially Affected	Levels Unaffected
Level 0	Level 15	Level 8
Level 5	Level 17	Level 10
Level 11	Level 75	Level 20

Documentation

The Backrooms' abnormal and shifting geometry was apparent long before the time the Database was first beginning to be formed. Since then, our understanding of the phenomenon has slightly increased, though not by much. Due to the lack of documentation about it and the almost universal understanding of its existence throughout the Backrooms, the Database saw no need to officially document it for a long time. However, as our understanding of it grew — as well as the occasional confusion caused by its lack of sufficient documentation — this page was created in order to not only lessen confusion but increase the general wanderer population's understanding of it, thus leading to its official designation as 'Phenomenon 14'.

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Author: Forknife