As reported by Phys Org, a collaborative study involving researches from Canada, Italy and the UK may have provided the first detectable evidence indicating that our universe may in fact be a ‘vast and complex hologram’. It’s an idea that’s been around since the 1990s — that everything we see around us exists on a flat, 2D surface, but we see everything in 3D because the universe acts like one giant hologram.
To explain the concept better, the common analogy used is to imagine the holographic universe as if you were watching a 3D movie in a movie theater. As movie-watchers, we see images on the screen as having height, width, and depth, even if they’re being projected on a 2D screen. In the case of our universe, it’s a bit more complicated because we can’t just see things, we can touch things too, which makes our perceptions ‘real’.
A holographic universe is a concept that appeals to physicists because it can potentially reconcile inconsistencies between quantum mechanics and Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Because although Einstein’s theory can explain large-scale aspects of the universe, it breaks down at quantum levels. In other words, it can’t explain quantum mechanics. And that just won’t do when describing what the early universe was like.
According to the researchers, proof for their theory can be found in the Big Bang’s ‘afterglow’ or its cosmic wave background. Through telescopes, they were able to detect a huge amount of data hidden in the afterglow following the beginning of the universe. They then compared this data with data from quantum field theory. What they found was that their equations appeared to reconcile irregularities between the Big Bang afterglow and quantum physics. And the only explanation for the universe working the way it does is that it must have been a hologram at that time, meaning, during the early stages when the universe was being formed, everything was being projected in 3D from 2D boundaries.
As University of Southampton Mathematical Sciences Professor Kostas Skenderis said: “The idea is similar to that of ordinary holograms where a three-dimensional image is encoded in a two-dimensional surface, such as in the hologram on a credit card. However, this time, the entire universe is encoded.”
What exactly does the concept of a holographic universe mean for us? It might not have a direct impact that we can feel. But if it’s true, it will pave the way for the unification of two conflicting theories — general relativity and quantum mechanics. And that will in turn lead to a better understanding of how the universe began, and how time and space came about.
Findings of the study have been published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
More evidence that Buddha’s world view may be more true than ever? Sounds silly, but it seems that more and more statements coming from the scientific community keep pointing towards many of the core ideas of Buddhism. I’ve always thought that Buddha was probably a guy much like Einstein or Newton with natural insights. The big difference of course, is that the language of science wasn’t available at the time. Words aside, the concepts are there on many levels.
When you say hologram that means an intelligent design so it also means a Supreme Intelligent Creator who created this hologram. We can hide behind Einstein’s theory of relativity and quantum physics still when you present this hologram theory about the universe it will remain incomplete until you add another factor that there is someone Who is far far more intelligent than the likes of Einstein Who has designed it and created it. Vedic concept is from space, air manifested, from air the fire, from the fire the water, from the water the earthly elements. In the same sequence but in reverse the earth is dissolved in water and water is dried up by fire and fire is consumed by air and air disappears into the space or ether. This theory is possible only if you add hologram concept otherwise the current big bang theory with no intelligence will continue to prevail in which everything is left to chance including human beings.
Well spoken Dave… Until proven otherwise, simply put, you cannot have something out of nothing.
Thank you for the article, it is a topic of great interest. These ideas were widely discussed before the 1990’s. “The Holographic Paradigm and Other Paradoxes” is a collection of essays published in 1982, edited by Ken Wilber, some of the writings are from the ’70’s and before. The essays revolve around the theme of a holographic structure of the universe, with our brains functioning to translate the encoded information from 2-D to 3-D as referred to in the article. The authors range from experts in human consciousness and neuroscience, to spirituality/mysticism, and to physicists such as David Bohm whose book “Wholeness and the Implicate Order” is centered on the theory of a holographic universe.