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

Melvin Vopson

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

Melvin Vopson

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

UN SDGs

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

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Keywords

simulation hypothesis
information theory

Access to Document

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

3 Article
1 Book

Reality Reloaded: The Scientific Case for a Simulated Universe
Vopson, M., 26 Sept 2023, IPI Publishing. 148 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Book
The second law of infodynamics and its implications for the simulated universe hypothesis
Vopson, M., 6 Oct 2023, In: AIP Advances. 13, 10, 15 p., 105308.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
476 Downloads (Pure)
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
546 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
292 Downloads (Pure)

1 Active

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

1 Membership of board

Information Physics Institute (External organisation)
Vopson, M. (Chair), Vopson, A. (Chair) & Lepadatu, S. (Member)
15 Sept 2022
Activity: Membership types › Membership of board

Are we living in a simulation? This experiment could tell us
Vopson, M.
8/12/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment
A proposed experimental test for the mass-energy-information equivalence principle
Vopson, M.
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

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Projects

Activities

Press/Media

Cite this