Astrophysical constraints on the simulation hypothesis for this Universe: why it is (nearly) impossible that we live in a simulation
IntroductionThe “simulation hypothesis” is a radical idea which posits that our reality is a computer simulation. We wish to assess how physically realistic this is, based on physical constraints from the link between information and energy, and based on known astrophysical constraints of the Univer...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Physics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2025.1561873/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850198438355927040 |
|---|---|
| author | F. Vazza F. Vazza |
| author_facet | F. Vazza F. Vazza |
| author_sort | F. Vazza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe “simulation hypothesis” is a radical idea which posits that our reality is a computer simulation. We wish to assess how physically realistic this is, based on physical constraints from the link between information and energy, and based on known astrophysical constraints of the Universe.MethodsWe investigate three cases: the simulation of the entire visible Universe, the simulation of Earth only, or a low-resolution simulation of Earth compatible with high-energy neutrino observations.ResultsIn all cases, the amounts of energy or power required by any version of the simulation hypothesis are entirely incompatible with physics or (literally) astronomically large, even in the lowest resolution case. Only universes with very different physical properties can produce some version of this Universe as a simulation.DiscussionIt is simply impossible for this Universe to be simulated by a universe sharing the same properties, regardless of technological advancements in the far future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b49263ed1146475eaf6d375d07f1e40b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-424X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-b49263ed1146475eaf6d375d07f1e40b2025-08-20T02:12:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2025-04-011310.3389/fphy.2025.15618731561873Astrophysical constraints on the simulation hypothesis for this Universe: why it is (nearly) impossible that we live in a simulationF. Vazza0F. Vazza1Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Universitá di Bologna, Bologna, ItalyIstituto di Radio Astronomia, Istituto Nazione di Astro Fisica (INAF), Bologna, ItalyIntroductionThe “simulation hypothesis” is a radical idea which posits that our reality is a computer simulation. We wish to assess how physically realistic this is, based on physical constraints from the link between information and energy, and based on known astrophysical constraints of the Universe.MethodsWe investigate three cases: the simulation of the entire visible Universe, the simulation of Earth only, or a low-resolution simulation of Earth compatible with high-energy neutrino observations.ResultsIn all cases, the amounts of energy or power required by any version of the simulation hypothesis are entirely incompatible with physics or (literally) astronomically large, even in the lowest resolution case. Only universes with very different physical properties can produce some version of this Universe as a simulation.DiscussionIt is simply impossible for this Universe to be simulated by a universe sharing the same properties, regardless of technological advancements in the far future.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2025.1561873/fullcosmologyinformationsimulationsblack holescomputing |
| spellingShingle | F. Vazza F. Vazza Astrophysical constraints on the simulation hypothesis for this Universe: why it is (nearly) impossible that we live in a simulation Frontiers in Physics cosmology information simulations black holes computing |
| title | Astrophysical constraints on the simulation hypothesis for this Universe: why it is (nearly) impossible that we live in a simulation |
| title_full | Astrophysical constraints on the simulation hypothesis for this Universe: why it is (nearly) impossible that we live in a simulation |
| title_fullStr | Astrophysical constraints on the simulation hypothesis for this Universe: why it is (nearly) impossible that we live in a simulation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Astrophysical constraints on the simulation hypothesis for this Universe: why it is (nearly) impossible that we live in a simulation |
| title_short | Astrophysical constraints on the simulation hypothesis for this Universe: why it is (nearly) impossible that we live in a simulation |
| title_sort | astrophysical constraints on the simulation hypothesis for this universe why it is nearly impossible that we live in a simulation |
| topic | cosmology information simulations black holes computing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2025.1561873/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fvazza astrophysicalconstraintsonthesimulationhypothesisforthisuniversewhyitisnearlyimpossiblethatweliveinasimulation AT fvazza astrophysicalconstraintsonthesimulationhypothesisforthisuniversewhyitisnearlyimpossiblethatweliveinasimulation |