Is the Universe a Simulation? Andrew Pontzen

Into the Impossible With Brian Keating

Brian Keating

Science, Physics, Natural Sciences

4.7 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 17 November 2024

⏱️ 75 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Please join my mailing list here 👉 https://briankeating.com/list to win a meteorite 💥 Simulations today are powerful tools for exploring the mysteries of our universe, but how close can they come to replicating reality? Can we recreate everything through simulations, or are there limits we can’t overcome? And how do today’s powerful simulations shape our understanding of everything from galaxies to climate change? Here today, to answer all of these questions and more, is none other than Andrew Pontzen. Andrew is a cosmologist and professor known for his expertise in using computer simulations to understand the universe. He’s the author of The Universe in a Box, where he unpacks the complexities of cosmic simulations and their surprising limitations. Pontzen’s work is at the cutting edge of how we model and predict phenomena ranging from galaxy formation to climate change, bridging theoretical physics with practical, big-picture questions about reality. As we head toward an era where simulations and AI are central to scientific discovery, these questions are more important than ever. Tune in to learn about the power and limitations of simulation! Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 00:44 Is it possible to simulate reality? 04:49 Early simulation experiments 10:30 Fluid dynamics and weather simulations 13:51 Judging a book by its cover 16:01 End of the universe 19:13 Cosmic microwave background and spinning universes 24:11 Verification and validation 27:34 Big Bang controversy and the JWST 31:35 Galaxy simulations 42:23 Multiverse and quantum computing 48:58 Ethics and energy impact of high-performance computing 55:34 Outro Additional resources: ➡️ Learn more about Andrew: 📚 Get The Universe in a Box: https://a.co/d/2V7vuFR ✖️ Follow Andrew on Twitter: https://x.com/apontzen ➡️ Follow me on your fav platforms: ✖️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrBrianKeating 🔔 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/DrBrianKeating?sub_confirmation=1 📝 Join my mailing list: https://briankeating.com/list ✍️ Check out my blog: https://briankeating.com/cosmic-musings/ 🎙️ Follow my podcast: https://briankeating.com/podcast Into the Impossible with Brian Keating is a podcast dedicated to all those who want to explore the universe within and beyond the known. Make sure to follow/subscribe so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	One has to be incredibly clear about what we're trying to achieve when we perform a simulation.
0:06.0	So we know we never kind of fully correctly solve the equations that we're trying to solve.
0:12.4	Even if we could solve the equations that we write down perfectly,
0:16.0	we are not literally reproducing the universe.
0:19.6	I think we always have to start from that point, that
0:22.1	there is no perfect solution to this problem.
0:24.6	Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
0:34.6	Open the pod bay doors, Hal.
0:39.2	Andrew Ponson, welcome to the Into the Impossible Podcast.
0:42.1	Great to have you.
0:43.0	Oh, thanks for having me.
0:44.3	In your book, you conclude with a simultaneous discussion of two extremely hot-button issues,
0:51.1	aliens in the universe and a hypothetical instantiation of the simulation hypothesis, popularized
0:59.7	by many time past guest Nick Bostrom.
1:01.8	Is it possible knowing as you do so much about simulations of cosmic and terrestrial phenomena?
1:08.5	Is it even possible computationally, energetically, for any civilization
1:13.2	to truly simulate reality such that you and I perceive that we're having this conversation,
1:18.4	but it's truly just a giant version of Minecraft?
1:23.0	Short answer? No. I don't think it is. But of course course I mean the long answer can can take a very
1:29.0	long time indeed because there's a huge amount to kind of unpack in what seems to be a kind
1:35.0	of straightforward question there's actually a huge amount going on there under the surface
1:38.9	and in a sense that was one of the things I wanted to write about in the book the short answer is
	...

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