Information is the core of the universe: New theory challenges spacetime as primary

A Universe Built on Information: A Paradigm Shift in Physics

For decades, physicists have grappled with the monumental task of harmonizing two pillars of modern science: Einstein's general relativity and quantum mechanics. While each theory excels in its own domain—describing the grand theater of gravity and spacetime, and the minuscule realm of particles and fields, respectively—their fusion into a unified theory has remained an elusive dream. This grand quest for a "theory of everything" faces significant hurdles, particularly when trying to unravel the mysteries of black holes, dark matter, dark energy, and the very genesis of our cosmos. However, a revolutionary new perspective from researchers at Leiden University in the Netherlands, led by Florian Neukart, proposes a radical departure from conventional thinking.

The Quantum Memory Matrix: Information as the Primordial Element

Instead of prioritizing matter, energy, or even spacetime itself, Neukart and his colleagues suggest that information should be considered the fundamental building block of reality. They've conceptualized this framework as a "quantum memory matrix." This theory posits that spacetime isn't a smooth, continuous fabric but rather a discrete tapestry woven from infinitesimally small cells. Much like the quantized nature of energy in quantum mechanics, these spacetime cells are proposed to hold a quantum imprint of every interaction that has ever occurred. Imagine each cell as a microscopic data point, recording the passage of a particle, the exertion of a force like electromagnetism, or the intense interplay of nuclear forces. Every cosmic event, no matter how fleeting, leaves its indelible mark, subtly altering the local quantum state of its surrounding spacetime cell.

Resolving the Black Hole Paradox Through Information Imprinting

This novel approach offers a compelling solution to the age-old black hole information paradox. General relativity dictates that anything falling into a black hole is lost forever, swallowed by an inescapable gravitational maw. Yet, quantum mechanics staunchly asserts that information can never be truly annihilated. The quantum memory matrix theory elegantly bridges this divide. When matter succumbs to a black hole's gravity, the adjacent spacetime cells meticulously record its imprint. Even as the black hole eventually evaporates through Hawking radiation, the information it consumed is not lost; it remains inscribed within the cosmic memory. This is mathematically described by what the researchers call an "imprinting operator," a reversible variable ensuring information preservation. Initially applied to gravity, this principle was found to be universally applicable, extending to other fundamental forces.

Unveiling the Secrets of Dark Matter and Dark Energy

The implications of this information-centric view extend far beyond black holes. The researchers demonstrated that even fundamental forces like the strong and weak nuclear interactions, which bind atomic nuclei, leave their traces within these memory cells. Surprisingly, the electromagnetic force, responsible for light and everyday phenomena, also alters the memory state of spacetime cells. This led to the formulation of a principle of "geometry-information duality," suggesting that spacetime's curvature is not solely determined by mass and energy, as Einstein proposed, but also by the intricate distribution of quantum information, particularly through entanglement. The perplexing phenomenon of entanglement, where particles remain interconnected regardless of distance, plays a crucial role here. In a fascinating revelation, clusters of these imprinted information records were found to mimic the behavior of dark matter, the invisible substance that constitutes the majority of matter in the universe. These informational clumps gravitationally influence the movement of galaxies, explaining their unexpectedly rapid rotation without the need for hypothetical exotic particles. Furthermore, the theory sheds light on dark energy. When spacetime cells become saturated with information, they cease to register new data and instead contribute to a residual energy in spacetime. This residual contribution aligns perfectly with the mathematical description of the cosmological constant, the driving force behind the universe's accelerating expansion. Collectively, these findings suggest that dark matter and dark energy might be two facets of the same informational coin.

The Cyclic Universe and the Grand Cosmic Narrative

This paradigm shift also offers a profound vision of the universe's lifecycle. The theory suggests that spacetime has a finite memory capacity. Once this limit is reached, the universe undergoes a cyclical transformation. Each expansion and contraction phase adds to the cosmic ledger, increasing entropy—a measure of disorder. Upon reaching its informational limit, the universe doesn't collapse into a singularity as traditionally envisioned; instead, the accumulated entropy triggers a "bounce," initiating a new cycle of expansion. The researchers estimate that our universe has already experienced 3-4 such cycles, with potentially fewer than 10 remaining. This implies that the true informational age of the universe is around 62 billion years, far exceeding the 13.8 billion years of its current expansion. The universe's final phase will be one of decelerating expansion as its informational capacity reaches its absolute maximum.

Quantum Computing and the Future of Physics

The practical implications of this research are already being explored. Scientists are testing aspects of the quantum micro-mechanics underlying this theory on quantum computers, treating qubits as analogous to spacetime cells. By employing imprinting and retrieval protocols derived from quantum micro-mechanics, they've achieved over 90% accuracy in restoring original quantum states. This experimentally validates the imprinting operator and highlights its potential in building more robust quantum computers. Combining imprinting with error correction codes has significantly reduced logical errors, suggesting that quantum mechanics might not only unlock the secrets of the cosmos but also pave the way for a quantum computing revolution. Regardless of whether this theory proves to be the ultimate answer or a stepping stone, it presents a breathtaking possibility: the universe might not merely be a canvas of geometry and energy, but a profound cosmic memory, holding within its intricate structure every single moment of its epic history.

The findings of this groundbreaking research have been published in The Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics. (Sources: The Conversation; Space.com)