How to test if we're living in a computer simulation

Melvin Vopson

How to test if we're living in a computer simulation

School of Mathematics & Physics

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Abstract

Physicists have long struggled to explain why the universe started out with conditions suitable for life to evolve. Why do the physical laws and constants take the very specific values that allow stars, planets and ultimately life to develop? The expansive force of the universe, dark energy, for example, is much weaker than theory suggests it should be – allowing matter to clump together rather than being ripped apart.
A common answer is that we live in an infinite multiverse of universes, so we shouldn’t be surprised that at least one universe has turned out as ours. But another is that our universe is a computer simulation, with someone fine-tuning the conditions.

Original language	English
Number of pages	2
Specialist publication	The Conversation
Publication status	Published - 21 Nov 2022

Keywords

simulation hypothesis
information theory

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

https://theconversation.com/how-to-test-if-were-living-in-a-computer-simulation-194929Licence: CC BY

2 Article

Experimental protocol for testing the mass-energy-information equivalence principle
Vopson, M., 4 Mar 2022, In: AIP Advances. 12, 3, 6 p., 035311.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
120 Downloads (Pure)
Estimation of the information contained in the visible matter of the universe
Vopson, M., 19 Oct 2021, In: AIP Advances. 11, 10, p. 1-5 5 p., 105317.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
44 Downloads (Pure)

1 Active

Applications of Information Theory to fundamental Physics
Vopson, M. & Robson, S.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
3/06/19 → …
Project: Research

1 Membership of board

Information Physics Institute (External organisation)
Melvin Vopson (Chair), Anna Vopson (Chair) & Serban Lepadatu (Member)
15 Sept 2022
Activity: Membership types › Membership of board

A proposed experimental test for the mass-energy-information equivalence principle
Melvin Vopson
4/03/22 → 19/04/22
7 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research cited

Cite this

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How to test if we're living in a computer simulation

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Experimental protocol for testing the mass-energy-information equivalence principle

Estimation of the information contained in the visible matter of the universe

Projects

Applications of Information Theory to fundamental Physics

Activities

Information Physics Institute (External organisation)

Press/Media

A proposed experimental test for the mass-energy-information equivalence principle

Cite this