Part 1/7:

The Universe in a Box: Simulations and the Quest to Code the Cosmos

Simulations and the Limits of Replicating Reality

One has to be incredibly clear about what we're trying to achieve when we perform a simulation. We know we never fully correctly solve the equations we're trying to solve, even if we could solve the equations we write down perfectly. We are not literally reproducing the Universe. We always have to start from the point that there is no perfect solution to this problem.

Simulations involve approximations and simplifications. We can't reproduce every single detail of the Universe. Instead, the goal is to find ways to simplify the problem and still gain insights and valid predictions about the patterns in our Universe or on our planet.