Science & Technology Q&A for Kids (and others) [December 27, 2024]

Stephen Wolfram answers general questions from his viewers about science and technology as part of an unscripted livestream series, also available on YouTube here: https://wolfr.am/youtube-sw-qa Questions include: What is computation? How does matter go from randomly moving particles to something that starts "computing"? - My son watched The Matrix for the first time the other night. He asked me, "Are we living in the matrix?" How can we know one way or another? - ​​Is binary the most effective form of computation? - Do you think we will ever be able to observe a graviton? - Is it possible a "universe" exists that has no equivalent of "mass," which could be in the same place and time as we are but is not observable by us? - Any thoughts on the developing situation with dark matter? - Why do all objects take a spherical shape in space, but the solar systems and galaxies take a disc-like shape? - Please share some more insights while you and Christopher were working on the movie Arrival as science consultants. Tell us more about the ideas from the movie and how they are currently being developed. - If there's antimatter, is there antimass? - Could the differences in time perception between ourselves and aliens affect our abilities to interact and be a contributing factor or solution to the Fermi paradox?