'Groundbreaking' new research reveals exactly what could mean we're living in a simulation

One physicist has proposed a new key theory that seemingly proves we're all living in a simulation, as the groundbreaking new research adds to the growing confidence that the universe isn't perhaps as it seems.

It has been over two decades since scientists began to seriously consider the possibility that our universe as a whole is part of a wider, more sophisticated simulation, but that's far from the first time the concept has been floated in general.

Arguably the most popular iteration of this idea comes from The Matrix: a film in which the central character, Neo, takes an ominous red pill and 'wakes up' in the real world, although the fantasy simulation is (arguably) far more appealing than what Neo soon discovers life to really be like.

Scientists have genuinely considered whether this could reflect our own reality for a while though, with 'superbrain' philosopher Nick Bostom first proposing the idea back in 2003. But a new suggestion could just have opened up further possibilities within the field.

As shared by Popular Mechanics, a new paper published by University of Portsmouth physicist Melvin Vopson, PhD, in the journal AIP Advances proposes that gravity is potentially key evidence for the existence of what he calls a 'computational universe'.

Scientists have played with the idea that universe is a simulation for decades, yet a new theory has potentially changed perceptions (Getty Stock)

This wouldn't just be groundbreaking for its potential proof that we're all living in a simulation, but that something as fundamental to human existence as gravity being at the heart of it would be revolutionary.

Outlining his theory, Vopson argues: "Using the second law of information dynamics and the mass-energy-information equivalence principle, we show that gravitational attraction manifests as a requirement to reduce information entropy of matter objects in space."

If you're unaware, information entropy refers to the measure of 'randomness' within any set of outcomes, with higher levels representing a greater chance of uncertainty, whereas lower levels indicate that something is easier to predict.

So, in proposing that gravity (or gravitational attraction) is used to lower information entropy in objects, effectively reducing their randomness and making them more predictable, Vopson indicates that the fundamental force plays a key role in enforcing a simulated world.

Vopson argues that gravity maintains the predictability and certainty necessary for a simulated or computational universe to persist (Getty Stock)

"This is another example of data compression and computational optimization in our universe," the physicist proposes, "which supports the possibility of a simulated or computational universe."

While Vopson concludes that the nature of our universe as a 'computational construct' remains an open question, he argues that "the entropic nature of gravity provides compelling evidence that information is a fundamental component of physical reality and data compression drives physical processes in the universe."

In addition, the theory illustrates that "gravity serves as a computational optimization process, where matter self-organizes to minimize the complexity of information encoding within space-time."

It's not likely to be something that 'solves' itself any time soon, nor will this allow us to peer behind the curtain of our own proposed simulation, but it does add a key argument to the consideration of life as a computational process, hopefully opening up the door to further research and questions in the near future.