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.

  • carmo55@lemmy.zipEnglish
    1·
    1 day ago

    From skimming through the actual paper, it seems that quantum gravity is a theory of physics, more general than general relativity, where spacetime itself is something that’s generated by a formal system of a formal language, a finite or small infinite set of axioms (fundamental physical laws) and rules for the creation of algorithms. What’s seemingly proved in the paper is that there are theorems in this system which cannot be proven, because they are too complex. But theorems in this sense mean states of spacetime or energy or whatever, meaning that ultra-complex states cannot be modelled with this model. And allegedly these kinds of ultra-complex states occur in high-energy situations.

    I’m not saying it’s gospel but the article isn’t as absurd as it first seems. Still I doubt this actually proves us not living in asimulation.

    • nickiwest@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      1 day ago

      We have demonstrated that it is impossible to describe all aspects of physical reality using a computational theory of quantum gravity …

      Okay, but isn’t that just evidence that the theory of quantum gravity doesn’t actually describe our universe?

      I’m getting real Principal Skinner vibes from this. “Is our theory so out of touch? No, it’s reality that is wrong.”