--- title: "Physicists Say They’ve Proven Whether We’re Living in a Simulation" description: "Researchers say they've proven that the fundamental nature of reality simply cannot be simulated on any computer." date: "2025-11-08" modified: "2025-11-08" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/science-energy/physicists-proven-living-simulation" categories: - "Physics" - "Quantum Physics" - "Science & Energy" --- # Physicists Say They’ve Proven Whether We’re Living in a Simulation ![Researchers say they've proven that the fundamental nature of reality simply cannot be simulated on any computer.]() *Getty / Futurism* The idea that we're living inside a simulation, as popularized by "The Matrix" franchise, has piqued the interest of scientists for decades. In 2003, philosopher Nick Bostrom [proposed]() in a highly influential paper that if a civilization were to become capable of creating simulated universes, it would create so many of them — many of them containing even more simulated universes, and so on — that statistically we would almost certainly be living in one. The theory has sparked countless late-night dorm room discussions and caught the attention of influential figures ranging from [Elon Musk]() to [Neil deGrasse Tyson](). But not everyone is convinced. In a [recent paper]() published in the *Journal of Holography Applications in Physics*, University of British Columbia Okanagan adjunct professor Mir Faizal and colleagues say they've proven that the fundamental nature of reality simply cannot be simulated on any computer. By using mathematical theorems, they argued that some truths can only be understood through non-algorithmic understanding. "It has been suggested that the universe could be simulated," said Faizal in a [statement](). "If such a simulation were possible, the simulated universe could itself give rise to life, which in turn might create its own simulation." "This recursive possibility makes it seem highly unlikely that our universe is the original one, rather than a simulation nested within another simulation," he added. "This idea was once thought to lie beyond the reach of scientific inquiry. However, our recent research has demonstrated that it can, in fact, be scientifically addressed." The team argued that the Platonic realm — a concept referring to an ideal plane that lies beyond the physical world that represents pure information — cannot describe reality using just computation. In their paper, they argue that describing everything in this realm requires a "non-algorithmic understanding," which doesn't stem from following a sequence of logical steps. The team employed mathematician Kurt Gödel's incompleteness theorems, which state that any consistent mathematical system contains true statements that can't be proven. "We have demonstrated that it is impossible to describe all aspects of physical reality using a computational theory of quantum gravity," Faizal explained. "Therefore, no physically complete and consistent theory of everything can be derived from computation alone." "Rather, it requires a non-algorithmic understanding, which is more fundamental than the computational laws of quantum gravity and therefore more fundamental than spacetime itself," he added. In other words, the universe "cannot be, and could never be, a simulation," per Faizal, "since a simulation is inherently algorithmic," and reality is "based on non-algorithmic understanding." "The fundamental laws of physics cannot be contained within space and time, because they generate them," coauthor and theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss explained. "It has long been hoped, however, that a truly fundamental theory of everything could eventually describe all physical phenomena through computations grounded in these laws." "Yet we have demonstrated that this is not possible," he added. **More on the simulation theory:** [*The Man Who Proposed Simulation Theory Has a Dire Warning*]() ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()