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Post by Hunny on Oct 15, 2012 22:45:12 GMT
Physicists May Have Evidence Universe Is A Computer Simulation
How? They made a computer simulation of the universe. And it looks sort of like us. A long-proposed thought experiment, put forward by both philosophers and popular culture, points out that any civilisation of sufficient size and intelligence would eventually create a simulation universe if such a thing were possible. And since there would therefore be many more simulations (within simulations, within simulations) than real universes, it is therefore more likely than not that our world is artificial. Now a team of researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany led by Silas Beane say they have evidence this may be true. In a paper named 'Constraints on the Universe as a Numerical Simulation', they point out that current simulations of the universe - which do exist, but which are extremely weak and small - naturally put limits on physical laws. Technology Review explains that "the problem with all simulations is that the laws of physics, which appear continuous, have to be superimposed onto a discrete three dimensional lattice which advances in steps of time." What that basically means is that by just being a simulation, the computer would put limits on, for instance, the energy that particles can have within the program. These limits would be experienced by those living within the sim - and as it turns out, something which looks just like these limits do in fact exist. For instance, something known as the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin, or GZK cut off, is an apparent boundary of the energy that cosmic ray particles can have. This is caused by interaction with cosmic background radiation. But Beane and co's paper argues that the pattern of this rule mirrors what you might expect from a computer simulation. Naturally, at this point the science becomes pretty tricky to wade through - and we would advise you read the paper itself to try and get the full detail of the idea. But the basic impression is an intriguing one. Like a prisoner in a pitch-black cell, we may never be able to see the 'walls' of our prison -- but through physics we may be able to reach out and touch them. www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/11/physicists-may-have-evide_n_1957777.html
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Post by Big Lin on Oct 16, 2012 12:37:57 GMT
I think I'll get Mike to comment on this one; he's more up with this sort of thing than I am!
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Post by mikemarshall on Oct 16, 2012 22:27:16 GMT
Well, of course, the question of what IS and is NOT real has vexed philosophers, scientists and theologians for a considerable amount of time.
Sadly there remains a general lack of agreement on the answer except of course among those who are convinced of the truth of their own particular dogmatic interpretation of the world who are almost invariably those who are LEAST in the position to be giving such arrogant assurances to the rest of us.
Neuroscientific research appears to suggest that the brain is a hologram so the notion that we may live within a holographic universe (or if you prefer the description a computer simulation - not that the terms are identical but both underline the relative lack of certainty about what we in ordinary life think of as a wholly physical universe made up of material objects when that is not strictly speaking the case)
Of course as always the philosophers got there long before the scientists but nonetheless it is good to see that science is finally catching up!
Curiously I am going to a discussion on Berkeley on Friday and his philosophy is particularly relevant to this question (as indeed are the ideas of Hume, Kant and Schopenhauer)
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Post by sadie1263 on Oct 17, 2012 2:58:22 GMT
I really should not have read this right before I go to bed..............disturbing..........wow.........seriously....I'm going to have nightmares now.........
Do I want the red pill or the blue pill?
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