The Nature of the Universe, Time Travel and More...

[publiusr]

What might happen if the Sun went off for 24 hours then came back on as if nothing had happened?

Repairmen always want you to do their jobs for them.

 

[Zero Kelvin]

I asked New Scientist's prototype AI Curiosity Engine the following question:

Is it possible that consciousness is more fundamental than what we ordinarily perceive as reality, being produced from entangled states in a finite, multidimensional Hilbert space?

This is its response:

It's a mind-bending thought, isn't it? The idea that consciousness isn't just a curious side effect of complex brains but might be a fundamental ingredient of reality itself is gaining traction among some physicists and philosophers. They are motivated by deep mysteries in both quantum mechanics and the nature of subjective experience, which our current physical theories struggle to explain . For centuries, science has operated by separating mind from matter, a strategy that has been incredibly successful but was, as philosopher Philip Goff notes, "designed to exclude consciousness" . Now, some researchers believe that to solve the biggest puzzles in physics—like the nature of time or how reality emerges from the quantum fog—we may need to put consciousness back into the picture .

One of the most intriguing, though speculative, avenues explores the link between consciousness and quantum mechanics. The idea you're touching on suggests that space-time itself might not be fundamental but could emerge from something deeper, like the entanglement of abstract quantum "degrees of freedom" . Entanglement is that famously "spooky" connection between quantum particles, where they remain linked no matter how far apart they are . Some theories propose that this web of entanglement is what weaves the fabric of space-time . Taking this a step further, if space-time emerges from quantum information, perhaps consciousness does too. Hartmut Neven, a quantum computing pioneer, suggests that entanglement is the key to solving the "binding problem" in neuroscience—how distributed brain activity creates a single, unified conscious experience. He argues that "entanglement is the only true binding agent we have in physics, as it allows for the creation of holistic states where individual components are fundamentally interconnected" .

This leads to some truly radical proposals. One is panpsychism, the idea that a basic form of consciousness is an intrinsic property of all matter . A related concept, cosmopsychism, posits that the universe as a whole is conscious . Another prominent theory is the "Orchestrated Objective Reduction" (Orch OR) model, developed by physicist Roger Penrose and anaesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff. It proposes that consciousness arises from the collapse of quantum wave functions within tiny protein structures called microtubules inside our neurons . Penrose believes that whatever consciousness is, it must be "beyond computable physics" , requiring a new, yet-to-be-discovered theory that unites quantum mechanics and gravity .

These ideas are far from mainstream and face significant scepticism. Many physicists argue that the warm, wet environment of the brain is no place for the delicate quantum states required by these theories . However, recent experiments are beginning to probe these "fringe" ideas. Studies have found tantalising hints of quantum effects in microtubules and have shown that anaesthetics—which switch consciousness off—may interfere with them . Hartmut Neven has even proposed a future experiment to entangle a human brain with a quantum computer to test if quantum processes generate consciousness . While we are a long way from definitive answers, the willingness to test these bizarre-sounding hypotheses shows a thrilling shift in how science is approaching one of its deepest mysteries .

It's a fascinating area where physics, neuroscience and philosophy all collide. You might be interested to learn more about how researchers are using anaesthetics to test quantum consciousness theories, or perhaps explore the philosophical arguments for panpsychism

I followed up with:

Might what we experience as supposedly separate conscious entities all stem from the possible states of a single quantum realm (Hilbert space or similar) so that notions such as external reality or individuality are merely illusions?

It responded thus:

That's a fascinating and profound question that pushes right to the edge of what we think we know about reality, consciousness, and the self. The idea that our individual experiences and even the external world are illusions stemming from a single, unified quantum reality is a concept that resonates with some of the most mind-bending interpretations of modern physics and philosophy . While it sounds like something from science fiction, it's a possibility that some physicists and philosophers are taking seriously as they grapple with the deep mysteries of quantum mechanics and consciousness .

The conventional view in neuroscience is that consciousness is an emergent property of the brain's complex network of neurons . However, this "physicalist" approach has so far failed to solve what philosopher David Chalmers calls the "hard problem": why and how does any of this physical processing give rise to subjective, personal experience at all ? This explanatory gap has led some thinkers to explore more radical alternatives, including the idea that consciousness isn't something that arises from matter, but is instead fundamental to the universe .

This is where the quantum realm enters the picture. In quantum mechanics, the state of a system is described by a wave function, which exists in a vast, abstract mathematical space of all possibilities, known as a Hilbert space. Some interpretations suggest that the entire universe can be described by a single, all-encompassing wave function . If you take this idea to its logical conclusion, it challenges our everyday notions of separation and individuality. As physicist Vlatko Vedral explains, when quantum systems interact, they become entangled, meaning they can no longer be described independently . If everything in the universe is ultimately part of one vast, entangled quantum system, then the idea of distinct, separate "selves" might be a kind of illusion, a useful fiction our brains construct to navigate the world .

This line of thinking can lead to the "many worlds" interpretation of quantum mechanics, which suggests that every possible outcome of a quantum measurement exists in a separate, parallel universe . Hartmut Neven, a leader in quantum computing, finds this view compelling, suggesting that consciousness might be the process through which we experience the emergence of one "classical" reality from the countless possibilities in the multiverse . In a similar vein, some theories propose that what we perceive as the flow of time is also an illusion. Don Page and William Wootters suggested that different moments in time are just different components of a single, static, entangled quantum state of the universe . In this "block universe," the past, present, and future all exist simultaneously, and our experience of time passing is just a trick of perspective .

Ultimately, the idea that we are all facets of a single quantum reality remains highly speculative, sitting at the intersection of physics, philosophy, and even ancient spiritual traditions . There is no experimental evidence to confirm it, and many scientists remain deeply sceptical . Yet, the fact that such questions can be rigorously posed shows how our understanding of reality is being profoundly reshaped. It forces us to confront the possibility that our most basic intuitions about ourselves and the world might be fundamentally mistaken.

You might find it interesting to explore how these ideas connect to the role of the observer in quantum mechanics, or perhaps how they relate to theories that propose consciousness itself is a fundamental property of matter.

I don't think it groks exactly what I'm suggesting, but then I don't think I do either.

Curiosity Engine FAQs

What is Curiosity Engine? Curiosity Engine is an AI chatbot developed by New Scientist and technology company Miso. Its goal is to have interesting science-filled conversations rooted in New Scientist’s rich archive of stories. How does Curiosity Engine work? Curiosity Engine uses a type of...

www.newscientist.com

 

[camdudetenger2018]

imagine if building time machines like the ones on the tv shows and movies actually does work

 

[Candleicious Ghost]

imagine if building time machines like the ones on the tv shows and movies actually does work

Well they won't but we can imagine

 

[Will The Serious]

...panpsychism, the idea that a basic form of consciousness is an intrinsic property of all matter . A related concept, cosmopsychism, posits that the universe as a whole is conscious .

There are aboriginal religions that believed all things have consciousness: life, non-living things like rocks, Earth, the objects in the sky and the Cosmos itself.

Many physicists argue that the warm, wet environment of the brain is no place for the delicate quantum states required by these theories .

Warmth and moisture have a negative effect on quantum states and their collapsing wave functions?

Some interpretations suggest that the entire universe can be described by a single, all-encompassing wave function . If you take this idea to its logical conclusion, it challenges our everyday notions of separation and individuality.

Math, once again, becomes the fundamental element of the Universe. Pythagoras is resting soundly.
A single, all-encompassing wave function would only translate into a number, in the end. Like a state or an address in a computer.

Before creation, there has to be desire. Desire can only be a result of consciousness.

We may find that there is no possibility of something from nothing because there is no possibility of nothing. When the Cosmos collapses back into its pre-"Big Bang" state, it leaves the ever present and forever enduring universal consciousness from which anything must spring. Then, how would a quantum state describe such a fundamental existence?

-Will

 

[Zero Kelvin]

There are aboriginal religions that believed all things have consciousness: life, non-living things like rocks, Earth, the objects in the sky and the Cosmos itself.

Warmth and moisture have a negative effect on quantum states and their collapsing wave functions?

Math, once again, becomes the fundamental element of the Universe. Pythagoras is resting soundly.
A single, all-encompassing wave function would only translate into a number, in the end. Like a state or an address in a computer.

Before creation, there has to be desire. Desire can only be a result of consciousness.

We may find that there is no possibility of something from nothing because there is no possibility of nothing. When the Cosmos collapses back into its pre-"Big Bang" state, it leaves the ever present and forever enduring universal consciousness from which anything must spring. Then, how would a quantum state describe such a fundamental existence?

I'll add that you have quoted what the AI responded, not what I postulated in my questions. I found it an interesting exercise in seeing what it would come up given some of my vague notions. I don't necessarily give any credence to its responses - none of which are likely to be falsifiable and perhaps at best only corroborating with what we already know to be the case and not excluding other explanations.