PBS Space Time Season 2019 Episode 12 The Holographic Universe Explained

PBS Space Time is back for Season 2019 with yet another illuminating episode that ponders upon the conundrum of the holographic universe. In Episode 12, titled "The Holographic Universe Explained", the narrator delves into the theory that our entire reality may actually be a projection of information encoded on a two-dimensional surface. The episode tackles some thought-provoking questions such as what would it mean for our understanding of physics and the nature of existence if this theory turned out to be true?

Through the course of the episode, the narrator breaks down the concept of a holographic universe into simpler terms, citing some of the key proponents of this theory such as physicist Juan Maldacena and philosopher Nick Bostrom. Maldacena's proposal suggests that there is a duality between gravity as we know it and a system confined to a lower-dimensional space, which implies that this reality we experience could be projected from a two-dimensional source. Bostrom, on the other hand, argues that we may be living in a computer simulation, where our entire reality is actually a product of a programmer's encoded instructions.

However, the episode steers clear of mere speculation and delves into the science behind the holographic principle, tracing it back to the fundamental laws of physics. One of the most interesting aspects of the holographic universe is that it relies heavily on a mathematical language called string theory. The Stanford physicist Leonard Susskind first formulated this principle in the late 1990s, but its origins can be traced back to the study of black holes. The holographic principle posits that the information contained in black holes is encoded on their event horizon, which is a two-dimensional surface. This idea suggests that the information inside a black hole could be mapped onto the external universe, and in turn, the whole universe could be seen as a product of surface information.

One of the most intriguing implications of the holographic principle is that it suggests that our spacetime could be thought of as an illusion, albeit one that we experience unequivocally. By considering the universe as a system of information rather than a collection of solid objects and empty space, the laws of physics that we know may have profound implications. For example, some scientists believe that the holographic principle could reconcile the long-standing paradox between general relativity and quantum mechanics. But as the narrator explains, there are still many unanswered questions and caveats to this theory.

The episode also highlights some recent empirical results that corroborate this theory, including the measurements made by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), which detected gravitational waves for the very first time in 2015. This groundbreaking discovery has allowed physicists to observe the universe in entirely new ways and could potentially provide evidence for concepts like the holographic principle.

Finally, the episode leaves us with more questions to ponder. Is it possible that the universe as we know it is a projection from a two-dimensional reality? What would this mean for our understanding of the universe and for our existence? How would we reconcile the vast gap between our theories and our daily experiences of reality? The Holographic Universe Explained is a mind-bending exploration of one of the most fascinating and far-reaching ideas in contemporary physics, and is sure to leave you pondering the nature of reality long after the credits have rolled.

If you are interested in exploring what some of the most cutting-edge theories in physics and cosmology have to say about the nature of reality, and in understanding how our seemingly concrete experiences could be a byproduct of our limited perception, then this is definitely an episode you won't want to miss. So, watch it now to unfold the mystery of the holographic universe.