| Imagine for a minute that everything you | | | | century, Bertrand Russell propounded |
| see around you is not actually there. It | | | | that humans might be just "brains in a |
| is just for lack of a better phrase, a | | | | jar" that were being activated by |
| figment of your imagination. Could it | | | | chemicals or electrical currents. |
| be? | | | | Next month, Prof. Rees will present his |
| The world's top scientists now think | | | | ideas in a television documentary called |
| that it could. In the Sunday Times from | | | | "What We Still Don't Know." He is |
| Britain, Prof. Sir Martin Rees suggested | | | | expected to emphasize that today's top |
| that life in the universe and everything | | | | physicists and cosmologists are |
| in it may be nothing more than a giant | | | | seriously considering this theory. One |
| computer simulation. The Royal Society | | | | of them, mathematical science Prof. John |
| professor at Cambridge University says | | | | Barrow also of Cambridge University, |
| humans may simply be bits of software. | | | | will discuss the fine-tuned nature of |
| In other words, we program our world the | | | | our world and how event the slightest |
| way we want it. We create our own world, | | | | alteration in such things as gravity |
| just like computers create a virtual | | | | would have devastating affects. This, he |
| world. | | | | believes, proves that intelligent design |
| Prof. Rees says that over the past few | | | | is at work. |
| decades, computers have created a | | | | There are, however, those who do not |
| virtual world with extensive detail. | | | | believe in intelligent design and say |
| "If that trend were to continue, then we | | | | the universe is far too complex to be a |
| can imagine computers, which will be | | | | simulation. Quantum mechanical |
| able to simulate worlds perhaps even as | | | | engineering Prof. Seth Lloyd of the |
| complicated as the one we think we're | | | | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| living in." | | | | says he could begin to imagine a |
| He adds that this fact raised the | | | | computer large enough to simulate a |
| question: "could we ourselves be in such | | | | whole universe. |
| a simulation and could what we think is | | | | What are your thoughts on Prof. Rees' |
| the universe be some sort of vault of | | | | theory? |
| heaven rather than the real thing. In a | | | | *************************************** |
| sense, we could be ourselves, the | | | | ******** |
| creations within this simulation." | | | | STORIES NEEDED: |
| Though this idea has already been | | | | If you have had a paranormal experience |
| snatched up by Hollywood in such films | | | | or know someone who has please contact |
| as The Matrix, Vanilla Sky and The | | | | me, as I would love to hear about it and |
| Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, back | | | | perhaps feature the story in an upcoming |
| in ancient Greece the philosophers of | | | | issue of my monthly newsletter entitled |
| the day did not find the notion so far | | | | Glimpses of the Paranormal. Please write |
| fetched. Even as far back as 2,000 | | | | to: Aside from ghosts and hauntings, I |
| years, the Chinese philosopher, Chuang | | | | also accept stories on related subjects |
| Tzu wondered if his whole life had been | | | | such as witches, UFOs and crypto |
| nothing more than a dream. And in the | | | | zoology, ESP, angels, past lives and |
| 1600s, Rene Descartes wondered the same | | | | reincarnation. Please put "Story for |
| thing as noted by his famous words, "I | | | | Newsletter" in the subject line. |
| think, therefore I am." Then in the last | | | | |