Are you made of real-world quarks or virtual-world qubits?

Professor Catherine Heymans, the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, has applied mathematical modeling to evaluate the hypothesis that human existence may be occurring within a computer-generated simulation. The simulation theory, which posits that sufficiently advanced civilizations could create virtual environments indistinguishable from physical reality, has transitioned from speculative philosophy into a subject of scientific inquiry. Heymans’ research employs probabilistic analysis and computational constraints to assess whether the observable universe exhibits characteristics consistent with a programmed framework rather than naturally occurring physical laws.

Her calculations examine the processing power, energy requirements, and information density necessary to simulate a universe at both quantum and cosmological scales. By comparing these demands against known physical limits and the historical rate of technological progress, the analysis estimates the statistical likelihood of multiple simulated realities coexisting with a base physical world. The methodology also explores whether current astronomical data, such as cosmic microwave background patterns or quantum measurement outcomes, contain mathematical signatures that could indicate artificial structuring. The work does not assert a definitive answer but establishes a testable, quantitative approach to examining the theory’s plausibility.

The study illustrates how modern astrophysics and computational science are increasingly addressing foundational questions about the