The case that our Universe could be a giant neuronal network
Scientists have recently pointed out that the physical structure of the Universe is similar to the brain’s structure. Sabine Hossenfelder, a theoretical physicist renowned for skepticism, wrote an article in Time Magazine titled \”Maybe the Universe thinks\” for August 2022. The similarities are described in the article \”Hear Me Out.\” The Universe is organized in a hierarchical, highly interconnected way, similar to our nervous system. According to estimates, the estimated 200 billion galaxies can be detected. They are not distributed randomly but are clumped together by gravity in clusters. These clusters then form larger clusters which are linked by \”galactic threads\” or long, thin threads. The \”cosmic web\”, formed by these filaments and clusters, looks strikingly like the \”connectome\”, a term used to describe the brain’s complete wiring diagram, formed by synaptic connections and neurons. The brain’s neurons also form clusters that are then grouped together into larger clusters. They are connected via filaments known as axons which carry electrical signals throughout the cognitive system.
Hossenfelder says that this similarity between the cosmic web, and the connectome, is not just superficial. Citing a study conducted by a physicist, and neuroscientist, who analyzed the common features of both structures, they concluded, based on their shared mathematical properties that the two are \”remarkably alike.\” Hossenfelder speculates that the Universe could even be thinking.
Source:
https://bigthink.com/hard-science/the-universe-may-be-a-giant-neural-network-heres-why/
