Astronomer suggests simulated reality may serve as a consciousness test

Catherine Heymans, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, explores the long-standing question of whether our universe is a simulation, prompted by her son's bedtime query. She connects the idea to her work in cosmological computer modeling and proposes that a simulated reality might be designed as an experiment on consciousness. Her reflections are detailed in a new book addressing the possibility and its implications.

Heymans's daily work involves building computational models of universes and testing them against telescope data, since galaxies cannot be studied directly in laboratories. Her son's question about living inside a computer game struck a chord because this kind of simulated reality is routine in her field. The question itself has ancient roots—Plato pondered similar ideas centuries ago.

Heymans's prolonged illness with long covid intensified her contemplation, as she humorously imagined the simulation needing a reboot or more memory. Her reflections eventually led to a book exploring whether a simulated reality might function as a consciousness experiment, and she has discussed these ideas at public events like New Scientist Live.