A Thin Sheet of Reality: The Universe as a Hologram | World Science Festival

What we touch. What we smell. What we feel. They’re all part of our reality. But what if life as we know it reflects only one side of the full story? Some of the world’s leading physicists think that this may be the case. They believe that our reality is a projection—sort of like a hologram—of laws and processes that exist on a thin surface surrounding us at the edge of the universe. Although the notion seems outlandish, it’s a long-standing theory that initially emerged years ago from scientists studying black holes; recently, a breakthrough in string theory propelled the idea into the mainstream of physics. What took place was an intriguing discussion on the cutting-edge results that may just change the way we view reality. This program is part of the Big Ideas Series, made possible with support from the John Templeton Foundation. Original Program Date: June 3, 2011 MODERATOR: John Hockenberry PARTICIPANTS: Gerard ’t Hooft, Leonard Susskind, Raphael Bousso, Herman Verlinde John Hockenberry's Introduction 00:15 Participant Introductions. 06:32 What is the Holographic Principal? 08:43 Are we real or are we just holograms? 11:40 Why can't information just go away? 14:53 How was the debate with Stephen Hawking? 18:53 Can we map every element in the known universe? 21:30 Where did you find the information being stored? 26:09 Finding the exact amount of information in a black hole? 33:02 Physics can describe everything in a 0 or 1 bit per Planck area. 40:10 What excites you about the Holographic principal? 46:58 Who thinks the Holographic Principle is rubbish? 57:24 Is there a more basic state that quantum mechanics? 01:05:44 What position do you all take on the Holographic Principal? 01:09:54 The universe is a giant computer. 01:18:30 The limits of knowing everything. 01:24:30 Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW: https://www.youtube.com/worldsciencef... ABOUT WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL: The World Science Festival (WSF) is a multimedia organization bringing the most transformative ideas in science to global audiences. Through long- and short-form videos spanning physics, cosmology, quantum mechanics, biology, neuroscience, consciousness, medicine, space exploration, the dilemma of free will, artificial intelligence, engineering, robotics, and beyond. WSF gathers world-renowned scientists, artists, and thinkers for dynamic discussions, debates, lectures, performances, films, and immersive live experiences. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in New York City, the World Science Festival is a production of the World Science Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to cultivate a public informed by science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future. With live events reaching millions worldwide and hundreds of millions of digital views, WSF continues to expand its global impact through festivals, educational initiatives like World Science U, and digital content that explores the near and far future of our world. FOLLOW WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL: Website: https://worldsciencefestival.com/ Instagram: Instagram: worldscifest TikTok: TikTok: worldscifest X(Twitter): Twitter: worldscifest Facebook: Facebook: worldsciencefestival LinkedIn: LinkedIn: world-science-festival A Thin Sheet of Reality: The Universe as a Hologram @worldsciencefestival