Damn
this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2025
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This doesn't really address the idea that our simulation is a simplified version of the "real" universe though does it?
They argue that the universe isn’t mathematically computable, and therefore not possible to simulate. It’s not about physical computers.
We know there’s a class of ”uncomputable problems” for which there’s no algorithm (most well known is halting problem). If the universe rely on any of these uncomputable problems, then no computer - no matter how advanced it is - can simulate the universe. Something else other than pure computation is needed.
However, their argument rely on that ”quantum gravity” is what makes the universe uncomputable. I’m not sure how valid this statement is.
Going to circle back around on uncomputible in "our" version of reality. I mean it's kind of lazy in its way but it seems like the possibility that the "real" universe is a fundamentally different kind of place throws out most if not all methods for "proving" it's not. I'm not even a fan of the matrix theory but still, to acknowledge it.
When someone claims something isn't computable, it is instantantly sus, especially from math nerds and not compsci nerds. Imagine the universe is indeed uncomputable, but each measurement is. The number of measurements you'd need to sim (at various scales/resolutions) is vastly smaller than the universe as a whole. This is morally equivalent to occlusion pruning in 3D games. If you aren't looking at it, it isn't being rendered.
When it comes to theory of computability, you don’t need to account for optimization techniques. No need to consider the practicality of getting an answer from the algorithm, like how long it takes or how much memory it requires. Either you can get an answer in finite amount of time, or you can not.
But I agree it’s sus when it comes to making such strong statements about the compatibility of the reality. I don’t trust this paper makes all the right assumptions.
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we are a speck of excrement on the buttplug of reality during a gay porno film.
Very interesting, although I'm going to withhold judgment pending some serious peer review.
Edit: One person doesn't like peer review to be part of the scientific process.
I was under the impression that something along these lines was already accepted from the perspective of information theory. I.e. a machine that could simulate the universe must at least be composed of as much information as the universe itself. Given the vastness and complexity of the universe, this would make it rather unlikely that the universe is simulated. Unless you want to view the universe itself as a machine that calculates it's own progression. But that is a bit of a semantic point.
Disclaimer: this is not my area of expertise and I probably got some terms or concepts wrong. I am basing this off of 'The information' by James Gleick
I mean, maybe the machine is five-dimensional and has no problem containing all the information of a three-dimensional universe? I don't know, yadda yadda talking out of my ass.
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This is akin to cavemen concluding there's no way an mri scanner could be possible.
I will prove that we're not in a simulation:
If we're in a simulation then whoever is operating it would not want us to know if we're in a simulation or not.
Anyone trying to check if we're in a simulation or not would be stopped by the operator.
I wasn't stopped by an operator hence there is no operator and we're not in a simulation.
Q.E.D.
Um, why? As a general rule, the point of running a simulation is to find out what happens under some circumstances where you don't know what happens. If you're imposing conditions like that, then you aren't so much running a simulation as you are running some kind of procedural generation.
I'm kidding but since we're just playing I would say:
Let's imagine you want to know who will win the next election. You create detailed simulation of the entire population and run it until the voting day to see how they will vote. If the simulated population realized they are in a simulation the will obviously start behaving in a different way then the real population thus making your simulation useless.
So I would say unless the goal of the simulation is to see how fast will it realize it's just a simulation you would try to avoid them finding out.
Then again, checking if people will realize they are in a simulation is a valid reason to simulate them so it's possible we're in a simulation that is supposed to find out it's a simulation...
Lol. They forgot that thermodynamics existed? If they remembered they were already done before they started.
Honestly I haven't seen a single article written by someone who actually understands the mathematics involved so I call a huge amount of HORSeSHIT on your headline.
That’s what the matrix wants you to think /s
Isn't it a waste of time to disprove the "Matrix Theory" (a piece of metaphysical, navel-gazing, freshman dormitory claptrap with absolutely no bearing on the pursuit of scientific knowledge or technical innovation or philosophical insight) in the first place? I look forward to the next paper, proving that there also aren't any fairies at the bottom of the garden.
Disproving the 'matrix theory' is just the catchy headline to garner clicks. The results of the research are beyond just the matrix. For example, this proof means that non-algorithmic determinism isn't something that represents a lack of deeper theoretical understanding. There are theories that consciousness is non-algorithmic. In that case, this proof means that AGI is also impossible.
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