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Science can’t tell if we’re living in The Matrix

<div> <div class="copy"> <p>We live in a unique era, at the boundaries of what transistor-based computer technology can offer.</p> <p>Thanks to that, we can now exploit the impressive versatility of previously prohibitive computational techniques, such as deep learning and other methods of artificial intelligence (AI), to the advantage of scientific research. Such tools are proving so powerful that some people are starting to argue either that we live in a simulation, or that there is a god and it is AI itself.</p> <p>Neural networks, a currently very popular AI method, are known to be universal encoders, which means that, in principle, any problem of any type can be learned and therefore predicted by the network (prohibitive computational costs notwithstanding). Unfortunately, this is not true in practice.</p> <p>Computers are finite-state machines, with finite memory, operated by myopic living beings: humans. This implies that chaotic systems (that is, nearly everything observable) cannot be represented exactly in a computer.</p> <p>Consider the number pi: it is an irrational number containing what seems to be a random, infinite sequence of digits. Neither computers nor humans can represent, or operate with, the true pi: we must approximate it. Fortunately, we have a recipe to approximate it to any precision, but for almost all other irrational numbers the situation is much worse, as they are impossible to compute.</p> <p>If no human can see these numbers, and no computer can really calculate them, do irrational numbers even exist? They do, at least in our imagination.</p> <p>Nature, as we see it, is governed by laws. Anything observable or imaginable obeys them. Physics is just the human-friendly version of a very small fraction of such laws, and it concerns only the observable phenomena. However, physics itself is based on human-centric imaginative assumptions and models.</p> <p>For example, Newton’s laws are never exactly observed in nature: they are a simplified, imaginative set of models able to approximately, yet acceptably, describe several phenomena.</p> <p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Quantum mechanics gives us insight on the finest grains of reality as we can perceive it by telling us that our world is made of funny-behaving “pixels” (</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Planck length</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, for the pros), literally several hundreds of trillions of trillions of times smaller than the atom. </span></p> <p>These are all models, and models are nothing but the imaginative representations of observable phenomena.</p> <p>Humans understand nature whenever they can associate observation with imagination. The true problem arises when humans attempt to understand the supernatural. Religious people may give you a different perspective, but we must draw a clear line: nature, by definition, cannot be supernatural, and therefore the supernatural cannot possibly be observed in nature.</p> <p>If a human can imagine or observe a phenomenon, then it clearly cannot be supernatural; hence the very definition of “supernatural” must be part of the conceivable domain of nature. That said, I have my strong reservations about whether we can ever prove or disprove our being part of a simulation in some big alien computer, especially if such a simulation is the Creator of nature itself.</p> <p>Disclaimer: Any findings and conclusions are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the view of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory or the Department of Energy of United States of America. This article has been approved by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for public release, IM number LLNL-JRNL-739760. </p> <em>Image credits: Getty Images    </em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/physics/science-cannot-tell-us-if-were-living-in-the-matrix/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Alfredo Metere.</em> </p> </div> </div>

Technology

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The Gates Foundation’s prophetic coronavirus pandemic simulation

<p>On 18 October last year, the Gates Foundation, the World Economic Forum and the John Hopkins Centre for Health Security held a pandemic simulation exercise, with the aim of “educating senior leaders” about an adequate response to the type of crisis the planet is currently in the grips of.</p> <p>The simulation was called <a href="http://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/event201/about">Event 201</a>. Fifteen participants took part in a mock pandemic emergency board. This included representatives from the UN Foundation, the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Johnson &amp; Johnson, Lufthansa and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.</p> <p>Representing Australia was ANZ board member <a href="http://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/event201/players/halton.html">Jane Halton</a>, who incidentally has been <a href="https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/morrison-shuts-down-parliament-hands-nation-corporations">appointed</a> to the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission by Scott Morrison. The NCCC is a local body of corporate representatives designed to coordinate the economy during the very real COVID-19 crisis.</p> <p>The Event 201 scenario involved a new coronavirus – a disease that causes respiratory tract infection – that developed in pigs in South America and then infected farmers. The virus spread around the world, with some people developing mild flu-like symptoms, while others perished.</p> <p>Stranger than fiction</p> <p>Watching the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoLw-Q8X174&amp;app=desktop">highlights of Event 201</a> – which took place just five and a half months ago – is eerie. Simulated “GNN” newsreels appear between footage of emergency board discussions, one of which involves an immunologist outlining that efforts to find a vaccine during the outbreak failed.</p> <p>The Gates Foundation’s Christopher Elias asserts that keeping global supply chains open would take “knowledge that only the private sector has”, while the UN could play a role coordinating the various private entities. But, it’s clear to Elias that this aspect of the response would rely upon corporations.</p> <p>The most distressing part of the highlights comes when the issue of the “overwhelming amounts of dis- and mis- information circulating over the internet” is broached. The board members go on to discuss whether internet shutdowns would be necessary to deal with fake news.</p> <p>Think about it – as we sit locked down in our homes during a real pandemic, with newly imposed restrictions on gatherings with others outside of our own households – what would it be like if the government and private business decided to close down the main mode of communications?</p> <p>Too little too late</p> <p>Event 21 led to seven key recommendations, all of which, it would seem now, came too late. These suggested that governments and business sectors should plan for a pandemic situation, which would include stockpiling medical supplies and investing in <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/should-child-vaccination-be-compulsory/">vaccination</a> development capabilities.</p> <p>The outcome of the simulated pandemic was catastrophic, with 65 million people dying in the first 18 months. The outbreak was small at first and seemed controllable. But, once it started spreading through the poor neighbourhoods of megacities, it exploded, with cases in nearly every country.</p> <p>“We have to ask, did this need to be so bad?” says a GNN mock news presenter. “Are there things we could have done in the five to ten years leading up to the pandemic that would have lessened the catastrophic consequences?”</p> <p>The presenter concludes, “We believe the answer is yes.” However, that timeframe to prepare is now lost.</p> <p><em>Written by Paul Gregoire. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/the-gates-foundations-prophetic-coronavirus-pandemic-simulation/">Sydney Criminal Lawyers.</a> </em></p>

Art

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How an aircraft simulator mimics real-life stress

<p>My palms were sweating as I brought the plane into a gradual descent, aiming to land the ATR72-600 smoothly on the runway at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France.</p> <p>That might not seem surprising, especially in light of the fact it was my first time at the controls of an aircraft, but it shocked me.</p> <p>I mean, I didn't have any passengers on board nor was I responsible for getting a crew safely back on terra firma. In truth, I wasn't even flying a plane. I had the controls of an ATR72-600 in my hot little hands but they were inside a simulator, not the fuselage of an aircraft airborne over France. Of course, I knew this but the experience felt so real, it tricked my body and induced a classic and slippery response to stress – sweaty palms.</p> <p>The ATR72-600 full-flight simulator at the ATR Training Centre near Toulouse is a marvel of engineering. With its exact controls, movement and ability to replicate real scenarios, it's proving to be a popular way to help bring professional pilots up to speed with flying the new series of ATR turboprop aircraft.</p> <p>Like the ATR virtual reality booth I also experienced that provides a 3D taste of flying in the future, the simulator can be a lot of fun, too.</p> <p>Our guide on this simulator adventure, flight examiner Gwenael Met-Evers laughed as he encouraged my fellow New Zealand journalists and me to "play".</p> <p>"It's a big Game Boy."</p> <p>After my colleague and I settled ourselves into the pilots' seats, Met-Evers flicked a few switches on the instrument panel and tapped on a computer screen nestled behind the cockpit. Next thing, we appeared to be at the end of a runway at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport with Met-Evers telling us to take off.</p> <p>I think the steering might have been a bit wonky because I swear I was holding the controls steady yet the aircraft veered left towards the grass. Met-Evers told us not to worry, saying it was "perfect" as we lifted off, managing to get airborne just before we hit the greenery.</p> <p><img width="497" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/25070/aircraft-simulator-in-text_497x280.jpg" alt="Aircraft Simulator In Text"/></p> <p>We climbed as Met-Evers ensured the landing gear was raised. My colleague and I relaxed a bit once we reached altitude, just as I imagine real pilots do. Met-Evers even engaged the autopilot for a while before getting us to make a few turns and fly towards the Pyrenees mountain range to experience a change in conditions.</p> <p>The simulator rocks and tips to mimic the feeling of flight. It's fascinating to watch from the outside as the simulator jiggles and rolls on hydraulic stilts. Although it can't replicate the G-forces possible in flight, it can trick your body and does make the experience feel real.</p> <p>My palms started to sweat as soon as Met-Evers told us it was time to land – and with good reason, it turns out.</p> <p>I wish I could say we landed that ATR72-600 expertly on the runway at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport but I can't. Met-Evers froze the experience before we clipped a barrier on approach.</p> <p>The ATR72-600 full flight simulator at the training centre sits next to a "legacy" simulator, says ATR area sales manager training and flight operations Dimitri Boursy. The legacy simulator can replicate other ATR aircraft including the ATR72-500, the ATR42-300 and the ATR72-200.</p> <p>Met-Evers says most pilots undergo five weeks of training. The course includes computer-based, flat-panel and full-flight training.</p> <p>"[These] guys are already airline pilots," he says. "We are just talking about the aircraft, how to use an ATR. We don't train pilots."</p> <p>Boursy says the simulator is the "perfect training tool" to replicate the aircraft environment including the mechanics of flying, the weather and the traffic conditions ... "anything with regard to the flight operation".</p> <p>"You can do whatever you want to be simulated."</p> <p>Along with the training centre near Toulouse, ATR has others at Paris, Johannesburg and Singapore.</p> <p>However, Air New Zealand pilots don't need to hop over to Singapore for training – the national carrier has its own simulators in Auckland. A spokeswoman says Air NZ has 10 operational full-flight simulators for each of its aircraft fleets – Beech 1900D, ATR72-500, ATR72-600, Boeing 787, Boeing 777-300ER, Dash8-Q300, Boeing 767 and two for the Airbus A320. It also continues to operate the Boeing 737-300, although it retired its fleet last year.</p> <p>They are busy, too, used by pilots from Air NZ and other airlines 16 to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, depending on fleet.</p> <p>All qualified pilots joining Air NZ and transiting to its aircraft face one month in the classroom, completing computer-based and flat-panel training.</p> <p>"During this period, they will study a wide range of topics including systems knowledge and how to operate the aircraft in a normal and emergency environment," the spokeswoman says.</p> <p>Pilots then progress to a simulator "where they will spend the next several weeks learning how to operate the aircraft in a wide variety of scenarios". </p> <p>Once they pass the ground and simulator phase of training, the pilots move on to flying an Air NZ aircraft under the supervision of a training captain for nearly two months.</p> <p>"The final phase in the process is a flight with a check captain, who will assesses the pilot over a series of flights to ensure they meet the high standards we set for all our crew."</p> <p>The spokeswoman declined to reveal the purchase price of a simulator but says Air New Zealand's investment in pilot training is "significant and in the tens of millions of dollars".</p> <p>I trust all that training means the pilots don't suffer from sweaty palms as they bring an aircraft in to land. </p> <p><em>Written by Cherie Sivignon. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image credit: Stuff / Andy Jackson</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/07/8-of-the-scariest-airports-in-the-world-to-land-at/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>8 of the scariest airports in the world to land at</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/06/17-year-olds-invention-will-stop-spread-of-germs-on-planes/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>17-year-old’s invention will stop spread of germs on planes</em></span></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/travel/international/2016/06/10-expert-tips-for-falling-asleep-on-a-plane/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 expert tips for falling asleep on a plane</span></em></strong></a></p>

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