PBS Space Time Season 2018 Episode 35 Computing a Universe Simulation

PBS Space Time is a popular science series that explores the mysteries of the universe in an engaging and accessible way. In season 2018 episode 35, titled "Computing a Universe Simulation," the show delves into the world of computer simulations and asks a fascinating question: what would it take to create a digital model of the entire universe?

The episode begins with an overview of the incredible advances in computing technology that have allowed scientists to simulate ever more complex and realistic systems. From weather patterns and traffic flows to the behavior of molecules and atoms, computer simulations are now used across a wide range of scientific disciplines to explore phenomena that are too difficult or dangerous to study in the real world.

But what about the most complex system of all -the universe? Could we ever hope to create a computer simulation that accurately models the billions of galaxies, stars and planets that make up our cosmos?

To find out, the show talks to a number of experts in the field of computer simulation. We hear from cosmologists who have spent decades studying the structure and evolution of the universe, as well as from computer scientists who specialize in creating sophisticated simulation programs.

One of the key challenges in simulating the universe is the sheer scale of the task. Our known universe is estimated to contain around 100 billion galaxies, each containing billions of stars. Even representing this vast amount of data in a computer model would require an almost inconceivable amount of storage and processing power.

Another major challenge is deciding what factors to include in the simulation. There are countless physical processes and interactions taking place throughout the universe, many of which we still do not fully understand. To create an accurate simulation, we would need to know the behavior of everything from dark matter and dark energy to the properties of individual particles within stars and planets.

Despite these huge obstacles, there is optimism among scientists that a universe simulation may one day be possible. In fact, some researchers are already starting to make progress in creating sophisticated simulations of individual galaxies or clusters of galaxies. These simulations are allowing cosmologists to test different theories of how galaxies form and evolve, and to make predictions about what we might observe in the real universe.

Ultimately, the show suggests that creating a universe simulation may be possible, but that it will require a tremendous amount of effort and innovation from both computer scientists and cosmologists. Even then, there may still be unknown factors that prevent us from creating a fully accurate digital model of the cosmos.

"Computing a Universe Simulation" is a fascinating exploration of one of the biggest questions in science: can we really create a digital version of the universe? Through a combination of expert interviews and clear, accessible explanations, the show offers a compelling look at the cutting-edge of both computer science and cosmology.