Physicist Says He's Identified a Clue That We're Living in a Computer Simulation
What if gravity were informed by the way matter was arranged in the universe — and a sign that we were living in a reality composed by a giant computer?
In a new paper published in the journal AIP Advances, University of Portsmouth physicist Melvin Vopson offered a new interpretation of gravity, arguing that it could be the result of the universe trying to make itself less cluttered, thereby behaving much like a computer algorithm.
"This is another example of data compression and computational optimization in our universe, which supports the possibility of a simulated or computational universe," he wrote.
Vopson's article is part of a greater movement of scientists trying to explain the forces of nature by arguing that they're the result of an all-encompassing simulation. In the early 2000s, philosopher Nick Bostrom proposed that our reality is a computer simulation dreamed up by a highly advanced civilization, echoing the plot of the 1999 blockbuster "The Matrix."
But proving the theory is a thorny issue, especially considering if we really were trapped in a simulation, its creators would likely have taken measures to ensure we're unable to peek behind the curtain.
Vopson built on his own "second law of information dynamics" proposition, which holds that the "entropy of any system remains constant or increases over time," to argue that gravity is pulling together matter and objects in space to keep entropy at a minimum, much like a computer tidying and compressing data.
"My findings in this study fit with the thought that the universe might work like a giant computer, or our reality is a simulated construct," said Vopson in a statement. "Just like computers try to save space and run more efficiently, the universe might be doing the same."
"It's a new way to think about gravity," he added, "not just as a pull, but as something that happens when the universe is trying to stay organised."
In his article, Vopson argued that information stored in elementary cells, defined as the smallest possible volume in space in quantum mechanics, informs the coordinates of matter inside the simulation, a kind of pixelation of ones and zeroes.
"The process is identical to how a digital computer game, virtual reality application, or other advanced simulation would be designed," he said in the statement.
Each cell can fit more than one particle, much like a computational system minimizing information content.
"Put simply, it is far more computationally effective to track and compute the location and momentum of a single object in space, than numerous objects," Vopson argued. "Therefore, it appears that the gravitational attraction is just another optimising mechanism in a computational process that has the role to compress information."
Vopson has long been a proponent of the simulation theory, arguing in 2022 that genomes of the COVID-19 virus exhibited a decreasing entropy over time, supporting evidence of his second law of information dynamics.
In another eyebrow-raising paper, he posited that information could be a "fifth form of matter," again allegedly demonstrating that we live in a simulation.
But whether his research will ever gain mainstream acceptance and approval outside of the fringes of the scientific community remains to be seen.
After all, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence — especially when you're trying to turn reality itself on its head.
More on simulation theory: Mathematician: Here's why the simulation theory is stupid
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
3 days ago
What to know about COVID variant NB.1.8.1 causing 'razor blade throat'
A newer COVID-19 variant may be causing a severe sore throat in some people who contract the infection. The variant, known as NB.1.8.1, has been nicknamed by some as "razor blade throat" due to the painful symptom. Data from the open global genome sequencing database GISAID shows the new variant has been detected in several states, including New York, Illinois, Texas and California. Public health experts told ABC News there is no cause for serious concern yet because the virus does not appear to be more severe than previous variants and there are steps that can be taken to protect yourself. What is NB 1.8.1? NB.1.8.1 derives from the recombinant variant XVD.1.5.1, which is a descendant of the omicron variant. The first sample of NB.1.8.1 was collected on Jan. 22, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It was first detected in China and other parts of Asia before spreading to Europe. It was designated as a "variant under monitoring" by the WHO, meaning it may require prioritized attention and monitoring but is not as serious as a "variant of interest" or a "variant of concern." As of the week ending June 7, NB.1.8.1 is the second most dominant variant in the U.S., accounting for an estimated 37% of cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The virus appears to be more transmissible because there appear to be changes to the spike protein, which is what the virus uses to attach to and infect cells, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. It also seems to attach more easily to ACE2 receptors, which are proteins found on the surface of cells and how the virus that causes COVID enters cells, he told ABC News. NB.1.8.1 doesn't yet appear to be causing increases in cases or in hospitalizations with rates remaining "stable" so far, according to Chin-Hong. The variant has also been called "Nimbus," which appears to have been coined on X by T. Ryan Gregory, a Canadian professor of evolutionary biology. "Nimbus is a catchy, quick name, and it also includes an 'N' and a 'B' from the lineage, which is NB.1.8.1. So it's easier for people to be able to say these monikers for COVID, rather than remember the actual lineage," said Dr. Alok Potel, a pediatrician at Stanford Children's Health and an ABC News contributor. "But I think it's important also because it keeps people paying attention to new COVID variants that can be different in terms of infectivity and in terms of spread," he added. What are the symptoms? Experts said they are not sure if the painful sore throat is just a symptom that people are talking about or a distinctive symptom of this variant. It's also unclear if the "razor blade throat" is more common in those who are more up to date on vaccination compared to those who are not up to date. "I think it's certainly amongst the spectrum of symptoms that you can get, and we know that sore throat is reported by about 70% of patients now with COVID, so it's not unusual, and like with everything in medicine, there's always a spectrum," Chin-Hong said. There is currently no evidence that NB.1.8.1. causes more severe disease or is more likely to cause hospitalization, according to Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, "But of course, there are people in high-risk groups that are still at risk of being hospitalized should they become infected," he told ABC News. There are no other symptoms outlined that are specific to NB.1.8.1 by the CDC. Symptoms listed by the health agency still include sore throat, cough, fever, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, congestion, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, muscle aches, body aches, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. How to protect yourself The experts recommend that high-risk Americans receive a vaccine twice a year as recommended by the CDC. The CDC also currently recommends most adults aged 18 and older receive an updated 2024-2025 vaccine and that parents of children between ages 6 months to 17 years discuss the benefits of vaccination with a health care provider. COVID-19 also tends to spike in the late summer and early fall, so people should consider opening windows to increase ventilation, wearing a mask in certain situations and avoiding crowded areas, Schaffner said. "Time to stream a movie, as I like to say, rather than going to the movies," he added. Patel said it's important to practice good hygiene such as proper hand-washing and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing. He also recommended that people test if they are symptomatic and said over-the-counter rapid at-home tests work. "Getting infected with COVID and other infectious diseases is not necessarily life or death, but it can still be very debilitating." Patel said. "It can cause people to miss work, to spread the virus, to get people who are higher risk sick and there's still an untold amount of people who have long COVID." He added, "So, we don't want to look at COVID as just another common cold, because there's still so much we're learning about it, and there's still so many possibilities with this virus continuing to mutate, if we let it."
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Boston Globe
For Boston's budding biotechs, an uncertain future amid funding cuts
Early stage startups, operating without much financial cushion, are feeling the impact sooner than better-established companies. Advertisement Dépis, and many entrepreneurs like him, are looking for ways to get their science funded. For example, LabCentral, a biotech startup incubator, has a program that allows big pharmaceutical companies to invest in cutting-edge science without making long-term commitments. Pharma companies cover the costs of lab space for individual scientists for a year, providing an easy exit if the research doesn't prove promising. In its recent five-year strategic plan, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council pitched the idea of a seed fund to support companies that graduate from the trade group's incubator program. Discussions are underway with MassBio's partners such as LabCentral and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, a quasi-public state agency. Advertisement 'What's happened this year just validated our plans,' said MassBio CEO Kendalle Burlin O'Connell. 'We knew that we needed to support these early stage companies. We really, really feel it's imperative for Massachusetts to be an entrepreneur, founder-centric ecosystem.' Dépis — who is researching techniques to better deliver drugs to treat immune diseases — says such support is sorely needed. Earlier this year, he applied for a federal Small Business Innovation Research grant; then the government employee responsible for his application was laid off. Two weeks later, the employee was reinstated, but Dépis's application remains in limbo. 'I'm in a position where time is critical,' Dépis said. 'For me that translates into a higher chance to not have the funding in time that I need to survive.' And Dépis is not alone. Before the post-COVID biotech slump, companies accepted at LabCentral could typically secure funding and move into the space in a few weeks. Now, startups are taking six months to a year to move in — if they move in at all, said LabCentral CEO Maggie O'Toole. Startups at LabCentral are staying longer, unable to raise the money needed to grow their companies and expand into their own facilities, O'Toole said. The average length of tenancy doubled to about 36 months from 18 months, Some startups, affected by the Trump administration's grant cuts, have had to give up their LabCentral benches because they can't pay the rent. 'It was nothing to do with the promise of their science,' O'Toole said. 'They had received [approval for] funding that never came through.' Advertisement Robert Coughlin, a managing director at the commercial real estate firm JLL and former MassBio CEO, said the biotech industry is going through a downturn reminiscent of the Great Recession of 2008. Layoffs have spread across the sector. Earlier this month, Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals said it would Moderna, the Cambridge biotech that soared with the success of its COVID vaccine, has gone through recent layoffs. In 2024, employment across Massachusetts' life sciences sector stagnated for the first time in more than 10 years, according to a report from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation. Boston's commercial real estate sector has been hurt by the biotech slump. The vacancy rate for lab space has reached 32 percent, the highest among major metropolitan areas, according to JLL's most recent US Life Sciences Property Report. While conditions seem dismal, Coughlin said, he noticed a sense of optimism at the BIO conference. The annual convention not only attracted big crowds from established biotech centers, but also representatives from states and countries looking to invest in and build their own life sciences sectors. 'People want to get together,' Coughlin said. 'They want to collaborate, they want to talk about these challenges.' Marin Wolf can be reached at
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
HIV: Supercharged Vaccine Could Protect Well With Just One Dose
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A supercharged HIV vaccine could offer strong protection with just one injection, a study in mice has indicated. Developed by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Scripps Research Center, the vaccine includes two "adjuvants"—materials that help stimulate the immune system response. In the experiments, the dual-adjuvant vaccine was found to produce a wider diversity of antibodies to protect against an HIV protein than with either single adjuvant or none at all. This was because the vaccine accumulated in the mice's lymph nodes and remained there for a month—giving their immune systems more time to build up antibodies against HIV. "What's potentially powerful about this approach is that you can achieve long-term exposures based on a combination of adjuvants that are already reasonably well-understood, so it doesn't require a different technology," said paper author and MIT chemical engineer professor J. Christopher Love in a statement. And, the researchers said, the same approach could be used to create one-shot-only vaccines against other diseases, including COVID-19 and influenza. A man receives a vaccination. A man receives a vaccination. Rani Nurlaela Desandi/iStock / Getty Images Plus Most vaccines administered today are accompanied by adjuvants to help make them more effective. One often used with protein-based vaccines—such as given against hepatitis A and B—is "alum," short for "aluminum hydroxide." Alum activates the body's innate immune response, helping it to form a stronger memory of the vaccine antigen in case of a real infection. The new HIV vaccine combines alum with a nanoparticle known as SMNP, which itself combines the FDA-approved, naturally derived adjacent saponin with an inflammation-promoting molecule. In their study, the researchers found that the SMNP–alum combination helped the HIV protein in their vaccine both penetrate the protective layer of cells surrounding the lymph nodes without being broken down, as well as stay intact in the nodes for up to 28 days. The lymph nodes are where protective "B cells" are exposed to antigens—the substances that the body uses to recognize a given infection—and learn to produce the antibodies to fight back. Vaccine antigens (pink) concentrate in B cell follicles (cyan) Vaccine antigens (pink) concentrate in B cell follicles (cyan) MIT "As a result, the B cells that are cycling in the lymph nodes are constantly being exposed to the antigen over that [up to 28 day] time period—and they get the chance to refine their solution to the antigen," Love explained. He added: "When you think about the immune system sampling all of the possible solutions, the more chances we give it to identify an effective solution, the better." When the researchers analyzed the RNA of the B cells from the vaccinated mice, they found that those who had received both adjuvants had produced a more diverse array of B Cells and antibodies than the other rodents. In fact, those who received the dual-adjuvant vaccine produced more than twice as many unique B cells than those mice who received a single-adjuvant vaccine. This, the team explained, increases the odds that the mice's immune systems will be able to produce antibodies against a variety of strains of HIV in the case of a future injection. And the benefits of the dual-adjuvant tactic is not just limited to fighting HIV. "This approach is compatible with many protein-based vaccines, so it offers the opportunity to engineer new formulations for these types of vaccines across a wide range of different diseases, such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2, or other pandemic outbreaks," said Love. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about HIV? Let us know via health@ Reference Rodrigues, K. A., Zhang, Y. J., Lam, J., Aung, A., Morgan, D. M., Romanov, A., Maiorino, L., Yousefpour, P., Gibson, G., Ozorowski, G., Gregory, J. R., Amlashi, P., Van, R., Buckley, M., Ward, A. B., Schief, W. R., Love, J. C., & Irvine, D. J. (2025). Vaccines combining slow release and follicle targeting of antigens increase germinal center B cell diversity and clonal expansion. Science Translational Medicine, 17(803).
