Computing a Universe Simulation

Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/DonateSPACEUploaded 10-10-18Physics seems to be telling us that it’s possible to simulate the entire universe on a computer smaller than the universe. You can further support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/pbsspacetimeSpace Time Challenge WinnersJin DuLoren BookerKevin Selva PrasannaMay AwbinJohn RezaIan GramsChallenge Winners: Please [email protected] with your name, address, US t-shirt size – small, medium, large, extra large, or extra-extra-large and let us know which T you’d like.Get your own Space Time t­-shirt at http://bit.ly/1QlzoBiTweet at us! @pbsspacetimeFacebook: facebook.com/pbsspacetimeEmail us! pbsspacetime [at] gmail [dot] comComment on Reddit: http://www.reddit.com/r/pbsspacetimeHelp translate our videos!https://www.youtube.com/timedtext_cs_...Previous Episode:How to Detect Extra Dimensionshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HYw6vPR9qUHosted by Matt O'DowdWritten by Matt O'DowdGraphics by Luke MaroldiAssistant Editing and Sound Design by Mike PetrowMade by Kornhaber Brown (www.kornhaberbrown.com)I’m not saying the universe is a simulation. I mean it might be – I’m just not saying it. And perhaps it doesn’t make any difference. Even if this is the prime, the original physical universe, rather than somewhere deep in a simulation nest, we can STILL think of our universe’s underlying mechanics as computation. Imagine a universe in which the most elementary components are stripped of all properties besides some binary notion of existence or non-existence. Like, if the tiniest chunks of spacetime, or chunks of quantum fields, or elements in the abstract space of quantum-mechanical states can either be full or empty. These elements interact with their neighbors by a simple set of rules, leading to oscillations, elementary particles, atoms, and ultimately to all of the emergent laws of physics, physical structure, and ultimately the universe.Special thanks to our Patreon Big Bang, Quasar and Hypernova Supporters: Big BangJustin LloydAnton LifshitsCoolAsCatsDavid NicklasFabrice EapQuasarDean FuquaMark RosenthalMayank M.