Jump to content

Is the observable universe a computer simulation?


Oddball305

Recommended Posts

I keep coming across scientists and intellectuals who are entertaining this idea, that the world around us is some type of Matrix. Could it be that we are trapped in someone else's video game? Testing this hypothesis would be very difficult with today's technology, but some scientists think it's possible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Could be. It's not a new idea. It predates even computers by quite a lot. That's just the latest variant.

 

See Descartes' Demon or Plato's Allegory of the Cave (although the latter was making a subtley different point, the underlying idea is present).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I keep coming across scientists and intellectuals who are entertaining this idea, that the world around us is some type of Matrix. Could it be that we are trapped in someone else's video game? Testing this hypothesis would be very difficult with today's technology, but some scientists think it's possible.

Visible Universe has mass ~ 10^53 kg ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observable_universe#Mass_of_ordinary_matter ),

proton has mass 1.67*10^-27 kg ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton ),

Divide one by another, gives 6*10^79 protons in the Universe.

 

Protons fusing to Helium and then further reduce amount of calculations needed to process particle.

Also mass sucked by black hole reduce amount of calculations needed.

 

If everything is included in simulation, there is no way to learn whether it's simulation or not.

Also you don't have any reference object to compare what you found on the Earth or in cosmos.

Physical laws of simulated Universe, could be different than higher level, not simulated.

 

You're probably thinking about simulating just Earth, or just Solar System.. ?

Edited by Sensei
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You're probably thinking about simulating just Earth, or just Solar System.. ?

 

Seems strange to me that only part of the universe would be simulated, such as one planet or solar system. If the objects are made out of the same particles, I assume their nature and origin are the same. I'm thinking that the fundamental particles of the universe (quarks, electrons, photons, etc.) are the pixels, so to speak, of the video game/computer simulation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Seems strange to me that only part of the universe would be simulated, such as one planet or solar system.

Earth has mass ~ 5.97*10^24 kg (calculate as above number of protons/neutrons and electrons it's made of),

in comparison to entire Universe, it's very little number of particles to simulate.

 

The less particles to bother in simulation, the easier it's to make.

 

I'm thinking that the fundamental particles of the universe (quarks, electrons, photons, etc.) are the pixels, so to speak, of the video game/computer simulation.

I don't think so your comparison it to game is appropriate. Games are entertaining players, while the most of people on the Earth, are suffering.

Edited by Sensei
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think so your comparison it to game is appropriate. Games are entertaining players, while the most of people on the Earth, are suffering.

 

In some of the video games I've played, characters are shot and killed, run over by speeding cars, stabbed to death, etc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If the Universe was a simulation, would that make the speed of light a rendering issue?

 

If you could go faster-than-light then you might encounter a loading screen.

Edited by Daecon
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.