Camilla Jessen
New study claims to settle the mystery of whether reality is simulated.
A longstanding question has lingered over physics labs and philosophy departments alike: could our universe be nothing more than a sophisticated digital construct?
A team of researchers in Canada now says they finally have an answer.
The simulation idea
The concept gained mainstream traction after American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson told various outlets that if advanced civilisations could build lifelike universes, the odds would favour us existing inside one of countless simulations rather than a single original reality.
Supporters argued that because humans already build rudimentary virtual worlds in games, a far superior society might manage something far more intricate.
Some AI specialists have even claimed it is “almost certain” we are living in a simulation, suggesting our perceived reality might simply be layered code.
Scientific pushback
A group from the University of British Columbia, however, has offered a scientific challenge. According to Science Daily, the team’s findings were published in the Journal of Holography Applications in Physics.
Lead researcher Dr Mir Faizal wrote: “It has been suggested that the universe could be simulated. If such a simulation were possible, the simulated universe could itself give rise to life, which in turn might create its own simulation.”
He noted that this recursive loop was once thought impossible to examine, adding: “However, our recent research has demonstrated that it can, in fact, be scientifically addressed.”
Limits of computation
Dr Faizal argues that core mathematical principles make the idea unworkable. He said the laws of gravity and the limits of computation mean a complete universe cannot be produced inside a computer system.
“We have demonstrated that it is impossible to describe all aspects of physical reality using a computational theory of quantum gravity,” he stated. “Therefore, no physically complete and consistent theory of everything can be derived from computation alone.”
He added that only a “non-algorithmic understanding” of reality — something beyond computational rules — could account for the universe as it exists.
What it implies
In the study, Dr Faizal linked the argument to mathematical theorems on incompleteness, concluding: “It requires non-algorithmic understanding, which by definition is beyond algorithmic computation and therefore cannot be simulated. Hence, this universe cannot be a simulation.”
Still, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence has kept speculation alive. If machines eventually generate their own complex worlds, some wonder what ethical responsibilities creators would inherit.
Source: Science Daily, Ladbible
