Many people believe that our planet is a giant computer Simulation being controlled by some advanced alien civilizations. However, some scientists have a different opinion about this. But are we living in a simulation? During a recent interview with Big Think, Michio Kaku, the renowned American Theoretical Physicist and futurist answered this question with simple terms.
“Ever since ancient times, people have asked the question, is the world a dream? Is everything around us an illusion created by some God to test us?” Michio Kaku explains. “Well, the modern version of that is that the Universe is a computer game. Are we just dancing puppets obeying the laws of some computer out there in the Universe? Is everything basically a fake?” He added.
Some people share this strong opinion that we are in a huge computer simulation based on modern technological advancement. However, Michio Kaku never agrees with this popular opinion. He used the Matrix movie to express his point. The theory of us living in a simulation became more popular after the release of the Matrix movie.
“In the matrix, what we thought was real, was actually a computer simulation put into our brain by some aliens,” Kaku explains. “And so, reality as we know it was all wrong.”
“Is that possible? Well, the answer is actually No,” Kaku continued. “But for very sophisticated reasons, Life is quantum mechanical. Life is not based on zeros and ones. Photosynthesis, for example, is a quantum mechanical process and also the basis of all life on Earth. And we still don’t know how it works.” he added.
The scientist further explains that flowers can actually do calculations that our most advanced quantum computers cannot process. Hence, Mother Nature is still smarter than us when it comes to quantum theory.
Are we living in a Simulation? Michio Kaku Gives Out More Concrete Reasons Why We are not
Are we living in a simulation? Michio Kaku also points out more reasons why we are not living in a simulation.
“If you want to simulate the weather for example, you will have to simulate the motion of trillions upon trillions of atoms,” Kaku explains. “No computer is that powerful that it can simulate the motion of trillions upon trillions of atoms that just make up the atom in one room,” he added.
“You can’t do it. We are talking about one with 25 zeros after it, just to model the atoms inside a goldfish bowl,” Kaku continued. “So we are talking about a fabulous amount of information necessary to create a model of a dream.”
Kaku also explained how humans are the most advanced by-product of quantum mechanics.
“If you turn off quantum mechanics, what will happen to your body? It will dissolve into a bunch of random subatomic particles” he answered. “Atoms obey the quantum principles and hold your body together. It allows your atoms to interact with other atoms to catalyst DNA, and protein. So you don’t really know where they are at any given point. So there are an infinite number of Universes that are possible right in your room,” he added.
Kaku also used mathematical proof to back up his suggestions.
“So in other words, it is mathematically impossible to create a fictional universe out of atoms in a fictional way. Sorry about that,” Kaku said. “The Universe is not an illusion,” He added.
What if the Universe is an Almost Simulation?
Kaku also noted that some people do ask if the universe is an absolute simulation.
“That’s possible,” he answered. “Maybe you cannot trillions and trillions of atoms because of something called the Butterfly effect.”
Kaku explained the butterfly effect as a process whereby the butterfly flaps its wings and there is a certain probability that the waves produced by its wings will be magnified as it progresses. Kaku also stated that the waves may be powerful enough to reach the tipping point.
“The point I’m raising is that no computer is powerful enough to do that computation of butterfly wings that could set off a storm,” Kaku said. “Is it possible? yes. Is it computerizable? Probably not.”
“So in other words, chances are that we do not live in a computer simulation. Sorry about that,” he concludes.
Conclusion
Are we living in a simulation? Michio Kaku, the American theoretical physicist and futurist explained why we may not be living in a computer simulation during his recent interview with Big Think. What do you think about Kaku’s suggestions? You can check out these top books written by Michio Kaku, to explain the universe better to us.
