It's a plot device beloved by science fiction: our entire universe might be a simulation running on some advanced civilization's supercomputer. But new research from UBC Okanagan has mathematically proven this isn't just unlikely—it's impossible.

Their findings, published in the Journal of Holography Applications in Physics, go beyond simply suggesting that we’re not living in a simulated world like The Matrix. They prove something far more profound: the universe is built on a type of understanding that exists beyond the reach of any algorithm.

  • 22NewtsInACoat@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    171·
    2 days ago

    The notion of a simulated universe is a bit of a misnomer IMO. It doesn’t mean the nature of our reality is unphysical as in order to exist as a simulation all of it must be represented physically in whatever the “top level” universe is. It just means that what we experience is built and described in a way that is not inline with our subjective reality, which is true in any case.

    Another fun opinion is that it would be easier for a technological civilization to discover it is in a simulation than it would be to develop interstellar travel. Upon discovery of the fact that it is simulated a civilization would either abuse that fact or change it’s behavior both of which ruin the validity of the simulation’s outcome. The natural response to this by whoever is running the experiment would be to cull that part of the data to preserve the fidelity of the result. Thus the Fermi paradox is explained.

    • CovfefeKills@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      When you use the word simulated do you mean to imply intent? Or are you speaking to something that is computational in nature?

      • 22NewtsInACoat@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        1 day ago

        Well this is starting to sound religious. I guess in this case these concepts are inseparable? The technology or methods used to produce such a simulated universe could be advanced enough to where we wouldn’t be able to understand as computationally derived and my first point is it may not be an accurate label. For instance I have no great idea of how we could tell being a part of a quantum computation based universe apart from existing in “real” quantum defined reality as the behavior of a qbit is essentially just a controlled bit of actual quantum reality designed to produce a usable outcome. I would guess our simulation would run on something at least as advanced is quantum computing. The original notion of a simulated universe came up when computers were iterative, deterministic and digital, which is no long necessarily the case which may alter what can be meant by our universe being simulated. I guess the key aspect of the simulation hypothesis would then have to boil down to a universal which was intentionally fabricated by some means within another universe.

        As for intent. I would guess that if a civilization went through the trouble of making a simulated universe it would do so with an intent in mind. However that intent could be completely mundane and our existence could and likely would be fully accidental within it. Likewise , usually a key component of any good simulation is that it is a rule based random process as you only simulate if you do not want or do not have foreknowledge of the end results. Otherwise you would calculate. Though this is a guess based on experience.