The Universe as a Computer Simulation
![]() Physicists have long struggled to explain why the universe started out with conditions suitable for life to evolve. Why do the physical laws and constants take the very specific values that allow stars, planets and ultimately life to develop? The expansive force of the universe, dark energy, for example, is much weaker than theory suggests it should be--allowing matter to clump together rather than being ripped apart. A common answer is that we live in an infinite multiverse of universes, so we shouldn't be surprised that at least one universe has turned out as ours. But another is that our universe is a computer simulation, with someone (perhaps an advanced alien species) fine-tuning the conditions.
The latter option is supported by a branch of science called information physics, which suggests that space-time and matter are not fundamental phenomena. Instead, the physical reality is fundamentally made up of bits of information, from which our experience of space-time emerges. By comparison, temperature "emerges" from the collective movement of atoms. No single atom fundamentally has temperature. This leads to the extraordinary possibility that our entire universe might in fact be a computer simulation. The idea is not that new. In 1989, the legendary physicist, John Archibald Wheeler, suggested that the universe is fundamentally mathematical and it can be seen as emerging from information. He coined the famous aphorism "it from bit". Physicist Seth Lloyd from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US took the simulation hypothesis to the next level by suggesting that the entire universe could be a giant quantum computer. There is some evidence suggesting that our physical reality could be a simulated virtual reality rather than an objective world that exists independently of the observer. Any virtual reality world will be based on information processing. That means everything is ultimately digitized or pixelated down to a minimum size that cannot be subdivided further: bits. This appears to mimic our reality according to the theory of quantum mechanics, which rules the world of atoms and particles. It states there is a smallest, discrete unit of energy, length and time. Similarly, elementary particles, which make up all the visible matter in the universe, are the smallest units of matter. To put it simply, our world is pixelated. The laws of physics that govern everything in the universe also resemble computer code lines that a simulation would follow in the execution of the program. Moreover, mathematical equations, numbers and geometric patterns are present everywhere--the world appears to be entirely mathematical. Another curiosity in physics supporting the simulation hypothesis is the maximum speed limit in our universe, which is the speed of light. In a virtual reality, this limit would correspond to the speed limit of the processor, or the processing power limit. We know that an overloaded processor slows down computer processing in a simulation. Similarly, Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity shows that time slows in the vicinity of a black hole. Perhaps the most supportive evidence of the simulation hypothesis comes from quantum mechanics. This suggest nature isn't "real": particles in determined states, such as specific locations, don't seem to exist unless you actually observe or measure them. Instead, they are in a mix of different states simultaneously. Similarly, virtual reality needs an observer or programmer for things to happen. Quantum "entanglement" also allows two particles to be spookily connected so that if you manipulate one, you automatically and immediately also manipulate the other, no matter how far apart they are--with the effect being seemingly faster than the speed of light, which should be impossible. This could, however, also be explained by the fact that within a virtual reality code, all "locations" (points) should be roughly equally far from a central processor. So while we may think two particles are millions of light years apart, they wouldn't be if they were created in a simulation. QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: Enhance your intuition and subtle perceptions with the Cosmic Eye Elixir--you may be able to find out for yourself what makes the universe tick! |
Building Body Trust for Greater Well-Being
![]() Body trust is not just a folk concept--it's also a scientific construct. It's used to measure "interoception, which is the process of sensing the body from within. Poor interoception is associated with a wide range of mental disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, depression and anxiety. Alongside questions about body trust, researchers measure people's interoception by tapping seven further features, from "noticing" to "attention regulation" to "body listening". Of these features, "low body trust" has emerged as particularly relevant to mental health. To begin building your body trust, you'll want to carve out time during the day to start paying closer attention to your body. Research shows that two mindfulness meditation practices--breath meditations and body scans--can enhance not only interoception, but body trust specifically. Both styles of meditation are forms of "focused attention", meaning focusing on an object inside or outside the body, such as a flame, a mantra – or, for our purposes, your breath or one or more specific parts of your body. Perform a basic body scan: Begin by bringing your attention into your body, whether you're seated or lying down. You can close your eyes if that's comfortable to you. Feel the weight of your body, on the chair or on the floor. Take a few deep breaths. As you take a deep breath, bring in more oxygen, enlivening your body, and, as you exhale, have a sense of relaxing more deeply. Notice the sensation of your feet touching the floor. The weight and pressure, vibration, heat. Notice your legs against the chair. Pressure, pulsing, heaviness, lightness. Notice your back against the chair. Bring your attention into your stomach area. If your stomach is tense or tight, let it soften. Take a breath. Notice your hands. Are your hands tense or tight? See if you can allow them to soften. Notice your arms. Feel any sensation in your arms. Let your shoulders be soft. Notice your neck and throat. Let them be soft, relaxed. Soften your jaw. Let your face and facial muscles be soft. Then notice your whole body. Take one more breath. Be aware of your whole body, as best you can. Take a breath. When you're ready, you can open your eyes. Perform an open monitoring exercise:
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Learning About Life Through Play
![]() When children play with dolls, for example, they can test out different scenarios for responding to a crying baby, including holding the doll or feeding the doll, Dee added. They create new neural networks and gain new understanding. This "pretend play" is a critical way children explore their environment and learn about the world, said Doris Bergen, a professor at Miami University of Ohio's Department of Educational Psychology whose research has focused on child development and play. Research shows that when mammals play, their brains are activated in a way that can change neuron connections in the prefrontal cortex, which impact emotional regulation and problem-solving. Play can also release chemicals in the brain, including oxytocin (which helps regulate emotions and supports social skills) and dopamine (a neurotransmitter that impacts memory, motivation, attention and mood). Kids are "flooded, a lot of times in play, with positive emotions," Dee said. Play is so powerful that it is often used as a form of therapy for children who deal with anxiety or trauma. Even as children move up through the early grades, research shows play can continue to have an impact. Elementary principals have reported that recess, for example, has a positive impact on academic performance and that students are more focused afterward. Play is considered to be integral to the academic environment for both social-emotional and academic development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Researchers have largely relied on experiments with animals to hone in on play's impact on the brain. A 2003 study of rats' brains found that rats raised in a playful, stimulating environment had higher levels of a protein that grows and maintains brain cells than rats raised in a solitary, boring environment. Other studies have shown that play in young rats impacts the parts of the brain associated with social interactions and thinking. Studies of children have also shown play's benefits, including improved language skills, problem solving skills and math skills. Certain types of imaginative play have been found to improve perseverance. Play can even be used to close achievement gaps between young children, some experts argue. To truly benefit from play, children must be given ample, unstructured play time, said Bergen. That means they should receive at least an hour each day in a safe environment to "create their own enjoyment, their own rules, their own experiences," she said. This child-led free play time can also help children internalize what they are taught about the world, she added. "Play is one of the main ways that children really consolidate their learning. The way we really make our skills permanent and enriched and highly developed, is often through our play experiences." QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: The Success and Achievement Crystal maintains a field of playful curiosity around the wearer. Use it when working with your child's education to stimulate the imagination and successful outcomes. |
BOOK REVIEW: Lifting the Veil of Duality by Andreas Moritz - EXCERPT: Moritz dives into the thick of the practice of non-duality in a world of duality (polarities / opposites). Non-duality is the ideal put forth most notably by Buddhism, and Moritz intrepidly jumps into explaining how we create "evil" in life to fully explore the realm of duality in order to learn the path to non-duality--or the perception that everything is good and perfect the way it is. FULL TEXT / VIDEO
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No One Dies From Disease - EXCERPT: We chose to come into this world--we also choose to leave it. The illusion of pre-destination is simply a failure to go earlier in the sequence of events to when the soul CHOSE how long a life to have and even how to leave it. If this remained unexamined, it very well would seem like "fate". - FULL TEXT / VIDEO
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Health & Healing Hack of the Week
Mindful Walking
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Quantum Healer of the Week
Tanja James
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Company & Product News
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CLEAN SWEEP CONCENTRATE - A GREAT VALUE
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Virtual Hydrogen ![]() The smallest molecule in the world, molecular hydrogen, is also known to be one of the most potent antioxidants in the world as well. Hydrogen has it beginnings in the very origins of existence itself and is considered by many scientists to be the original molecular gas out of which life itself emerged. In recent years, molecular hydrogen has been extensively studied for its numerous positive effects on health, longevity, inflammation, sports recovery, detoxification pathways, brain health and gut health. Supports healthy internal gut fermentation and gut health. MORE BENEFITS: Performs like an adaptogen in the body, Creates balance within the body, Strong anti-inflammatory properties, Naturally detoxifies the body, Activates the same beneficial metabolic pathways normally activated through daily exercise (i.e., molecular hydrogen is an exercise mimetic), Enhances and protects mitochondrial function, Supports memory, Increases physical endurance, Promotes better nutrient absorption in the body, promotes better hydration, Improves joint mobility, Promotes blood circulation. MORE INFO |
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Rose Quartz
"Stone of Unconditional Love and Infinite Peace"
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