The idea that our Universe may be a vast computer simulation has long sat at the edge of theoretical physics, often filed somewhere between speculation and philosophy. But new work from UK physicist Dr Melvin Vopson of the University of Portsmouth offers a more structured argument: gravity, he proposes, might be a by-product of information compression, the Universe’s way of organising itself efficiently.

In this model, gravity isn’t a fundamental force in the classical sense. Instead, it acts more like a rule within a computational system a method for managing data. The idea reframes matter, space, and time not as independent properties, but as interlinked components governed by the logic of efficiency.

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A New Framework for an Old Force

Vopson’s research builds on his earlier work developing a field he calls “infodynamics,” a theory drawing parallels with the second law of thermodynamics. In traditional thermodynamics, systems tend towards increased entropy, more disorder, and less usable energy. But in infodynamics, the rule bends the other way: information entropy should stay stable or decrease over time. 

His recent study suggests that elementary particles might behave like bits of information. If space-time is made up of pixel-like cells, then gravity could be the result of those cells naturally limiting themselves to one object each, a simpler way for the Universe to manage what’s where. Where multiple particles share a pixel, they coalesce. This process, Vopson suggests, mirrors data compression, an optimised way to reduce information load. In this analogy, gravity doesn’t pull in the traditional sense. It tidies.

Information, Not Just Matter

Vopson’s broader theory hinges on the notion that information has mass and could itself be considered a form of matter. By that logic, managing the distribution of information, not just physical objects, becomes a fundamental function of the Universe. In his own words, “it is far more computationally effective to track and compute the location and momentum of a single object in space than numerous objects.” In short, the gravitational effect could be the result of a built-in optimisation system designed to reduce information overhead.

Computer Simulation or Structure?

Whether this leads us closer to proving we live in a simulation is still an open question. Vopson acknowledges that, philosophically, it may change very little about how we live our lives. But examining known phenomena like gravity through this lens could offer new angles in areas where standard physics remains incomplete.

We can measure gravity with high precision, but we still don’t understand its core mechanics. If rethinking it as a form of information management gets us closer to answers, the theory might be more than just an abstract thought experiment.

Vopson’s next step is to refine the framework and explore whether the ideas can be applied in relativistic or quantum gravity contexts, or even tested experimentally.