On the other hand, if we could somehow demonstrate that we're living in a simulated reality then there might be some fairly major consequences for the whole idea of a "Theory of Everything". Finding a grand unified theory to unite all the forces of nature would then only be a description of this reality, but not necessarily a valid description of the universe which spawned ours, or the one that spawned that one. So the "end of science" would be pushed back indefinitely and quite possibly, forever. The prime goal of science would shift from seeking to attain a complete model of reality to the search for a means to communicate with the "programmers", or whatever you wanted to call them.
Simulation cosmology appeals to me, in part, because of the ways it might explain "paranormal" phenomena. Maybe UFO encounters and near-death experiences offer portals into a computationally richer domain that we struggle to define for sheer lack of vocabulary.
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Yeah, and maybe the anomalies on Mars (the Face, for instance, or some of the more convincing glyphs) might in fact be the "programmers" attempting to be funny.
Easter Eggs of the Gods?
As I had to inform Mr. Dvorsky, we are not in a simulation. It's more of a free-form experiment with subtle interventions when required, but to be done in a plausibly deniable manner.
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