Ever wondered if the universe runs like your computer? A physicist now thinks gravity may be part of the code.
A new study from Dr Melvin Vopson, University of Portsmouth, suggests gravity could be a result of information processing. He believes the universe works like a vast quantum computer, constantly trying to keep information neat and compressed.
A New Take on an Old Force
Instead of seeing gravity as a pulling force alone, Dr Vopson proposes it may be a result of how data is stored in the cosmos. Using the second law of information dynamics, he suggests matter is drawn together because the universe is aiming to tidy up its information systems.
"Just as computers aim for efficiency and storage, the universe may be doing something similar," said Vopson. His work supports the idea that gravity might be tied to how matter is organised across space and time.
Information as the Building Block
Dr Vopson’s previous research argued that information itself has mass. He believes all elementary particles, the smallest parts of the universe, carry data about themselves, much like DNA in living cells.
In this new study, he explains that space is made up of pixel-like cells. These cells act as digital storage, recording either a “0” or a “1” depending on whether matter is present. If matter exists in the cell, it records a “1”; if not, it logs a “0.”
This digital layout mimics how computers run simulations or games. According to Vopson, when several particles are grouped into one cell, it takes less effort for the system to track them. This natural movement to store more in one place could explain gravitational attraction.
A Simulated Reality?
Dr Vopson adds that this compression of matter into fewer cells reduces the energy needed to compute the system. "It’s simpler to manage one large object than many smaller ones," he said. "So gravity might just be a result of the universe trying to stay organised."
He believes this behaviour reflects how simulations are designed to run smoothly by minimising energy use. If true, this theory could reshape how we understand not just gravity, but the fabric of our universe.
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