By Cheyenne MacDonald
It’s a question that has persisted in science fiction and philosophical discussion alike: are we living in a computer simulation?
Scientists have long argued both sides of the theory, with some even suggesting if we did live in a simulated reality, we’d never know the truth.
But now, a new study could finally put the debate to rest.
Theoretical physicists have discovered that it is impossible, by principle, to simulate a quantum phenomenon that occurs in metals – and, ultimately, something as complex as the entire universe.
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Scientists have long argued both sides of the theory, with some even suggesting if we did live in a simulated reality, we’d never know the truth anyway. But now, a new study could finally put the debate to rest. A stock image is pictured
In a new study published to the journal Science Advances, the team from the University of Oxford and the Hebrew University used a technique known as Monte Carlo simulation to investigate a phenomenon said to be a gravitational anomaly.
The effect, called thermal Hall conductance, can be seen in systems with high magnetic fields and low temperatures.
But in their work, the researchers found that the simulation is unable to capture a system with gravitational anomalies, such as the quantum Hall effect.
As the number of particles required for the simulation increased, the researchers found the simulation itself became far more complex.
It’s a question that has persisted in science fiction and philosophical discussion alike: are we living in a computer simulation?
Scientists have long argued both sides of the theory, with some even suggesting if we did live in a simulated reality, we’d never know the truth.
But now, a new study could finally put the debate to rest.
Theoretical physicists have discovered that it is impossible, by principle, to simulate a quantum phenomenon that occurs in metals – and, ultimately, something as complex as the entire universe.
Scroll down for video
Scientists have long argued both sides of the theory, with some even suggesting if we did live in a simulated reality, we’d never know the truth anyway. But now, a new study could finally put the debate to rest. A stock image is pictured
In a new study published to the journal Science Advances, the team from the University of Oxford and the Hebrew University used a technique known as Monte Carlo simulation to investigate a phenomenon said to be a gravitational anomaly.
The effect, called thermal Hall conductance, can be seen in systems with high magnetic fields and low temperatures.
But in their work, the researchers found that the simulation is unable to capture a system with gravitational anomalies, such as the quantum Hall effect.
As the number of particles required for the simulation increased, the researchers found the simulation itself became far more complex.
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