Why we are (most) probably not in a computer simulation.

A very interesting topic that all teenagers are talking about - Are we in a computer simulation? Does life matter? Is the simulation theory true? We might have answers!

This is the first issue of Smort.in - a newsletter where I and my friends will talk about cool science concepts with an aim to make you, the readers, think and explore your imaginations about the future, and maybe learn something along the way. If you're a teenager or just someone who likes learning, this is for you. No matter if you're in science, commerce or arts, we guarantee that this will get you interested in how the world works and get you thinking!

Today, we'll talk about a very interesting concept that all teenagers are talking about - Are we in a computer simulation? Does life matter? Is the simulation theory true?

But what is the simulation theory?

Many believe that our existence is due to a highly advanced computer simulation created by an even more advanced civilization in the future. It's a fascinating idea that has been explored in science fiction for decades.

It makes sense, right? It's not even been a century since computers came around, and only about 50 years since computing was a common thing. Yet, humans have been able to create life-like simulations in games and engines that can mimic our physical world and artificial intelligence that challenges humans in various tasks. With the advances in technology and AI, it's not hard to imagine that we could create a simulation that is indistinguishable from reality.

Let's say, we have 1,000 years of computing, surely by then we'll be able to create a life-like simulation. Maybe on quantum computers?
And what happens if the humans of the simulation of our reality we create, create one more simulation inside of it? Which means that we could also be a simulation.

But wait! It means that there can be infinite simulations inside simulations, which would mean that there's a 1/∞ chance that we are real. Which means there's a 100% chance that we are in a simulation??

I mean, that's what Elon Musk also thinks, he has to be right, right? And if we are in a simulation, does anything even matter?

The catch.

Think of this reality as a Minecraft server - where the entire universe is built with "blocks" (Atoms). But wait, Minecraft has a world limit.

Can computers simulate each and every atom of our world? And can they simulate what goes on inside them?

Scientists at University of Oxford found that simulating quantum phenomena in metals (which btw is a super complex task) needs mind-bogglingly complex simulations. The more particles you throw in, the more computing power you need. It's like trying to build an infinite Minecraft world that never ends, or trying to solve a puzzle where the pieces multiply like crazy every time you add more! It gets trickier and trickier. With traditional computers, that's simply impossible.

So, as much as it's fun to contemplate simulations within simulations, fully simulating our reality down to the tiniest atoms is a massive long shot. The sheer computational power required is beyond what we can even imagine right now.

That's not me saying me, it's this research paper by the same scientists. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1701758

What if even that's planted by our parent simulation to make us believe that we aren't in a simulation?
What if we are just not advanced enough to be able to imagine how much computation we can get to? I'm sure that humans didn't think they would be here, 100 years ago when computers were invented.

Well, we have yet to find out. But...

Does it matter?

But hey, here's the thing: whether we're in a simulation or not, our experiences and connections are real to us. The choices we make and the impact we have on the world matter, no matter what's going on behind the scenes.

So, keep questioning, keep exploring, and keep embracing the mysteries of our universe. The simulation or not, this adventure we call life is one heck of a ride.

Stay curious, my friends!

Dhravya Shah, your friend at Smort.in