Can a startup emerge that explores Reality, Space-Time, and the Quantum Universe?

The idea that’s been on my mind the most…is not about health/health tech.

**NOTE: this was written before this study was published & before this announcement from Microsoft :)

As someone who has spent time conducting due diligence on emerging technologies, I’ve come across countless innovations that promise to disrupt industries and create seismic shifts in our daily lives. One area doesn’t seem to have the recognition it should: the realm of quantum computing and the specific role it will play in understanding our reality, debunking elements of classical physics, and so forth.

It may be the next frontier for innovation, one that could redefine our understanding of reality itself. The startup that positions itself to harness this to unlock new paradigms in space-time, reality, and even time manipulation, will be the ultimate unicorn (and the ultimate ‘zero to one’ in more ways than one). And why now: the confluence of advances in theoretical physics, quantum mechanics, spirituality, psychedelics, and generative A.I., combined with the power of quantum computing positions us to make novel discoveries in this specific area.

Quantum Computing — what is it?

Quantum computing represents a departure from classical computing, which relies on binary digits, or bits, to encode information as either a 0 or 1. Quantum computers, on the other hand, utilize qubits, which can exist simultaneously as both 0 and 1 due to the principle of superposition. Through quantum entanglement, qubits can become interconnected in ways that classical systems cannot replicate, allowing them to process massive amounts of information simultaneously. These properties grant quantum computers an almost magical ability to solve complex problems — problems that would take classical computers millennia to compute.

This has far-reaching implications for industries ranging from cryptography and pharmaceuticals (health link!) to financial modeling, not to mention modeling the likelihood of various endpoints in health (e.g. specific diseases…another health link!). But beyond the practical applications, quantum computing could become the key to answering humanity’s deepest questions about the nature of reality.

Disrupting classical physics to ‘iterate’ on sense-based reality

Classical physics, rooted in Newtonian mechanics, once dominated our understanding of the universe. However, with the advent of Einstein’s theory of relativity and the emergence of quantum mechanics, our perception of reality shifted dramatically. The classical view of a deterministic, predictable universe gave way to a probabilistic and interconnected cosmos, where particles can be in multiple states at once and affect one another instantaneously across vast distances.

Quantum computing is poised to bridge the gap between these seemingly incompatible views of reality. By simulating complex quantum systems, it could help us understand phenomena like wave-particle duality, the measurement problem, and the mysterious “collapse” of the wave function. As physicist John Wheeler suggested, reality itself might be “quantum participatory,” meaning that consciousness and observation play a role in shaping the universe. Quantum computers, with their ability to process and predict probabilistic outcomes, is now well-positioned to help scientists determine whether reality emerges from the quantum level or whether it exists independently of our perception.

This presents a tantalizing opportunity to back the foundational research that could lead to paradigm shifts in not only physics but also our perception of existence. Imagine a future where quantum simulations provide answers to questions about human consciousness, parallel universes, and the fundamental structure of the cosmos, which then helps guide action and have ‘influence’ on various outcomes...and make sense of stochastic reasoning (i.e. remove the very idea of ‘randomness’?)

Space-Time and the Quantum Realm

Einstein’s general theory of relativity describes space-time as a four-dimensional fabric that can be bent and warped by gravity. Quantum mechanics, on the other hand, focuses on the behavior of particles at the smallest scales. Reconciling these two frameworks has been one of the most significant challenges in physics, as the laws governing the very large (planets, stars, galaxies) often conflict with those governing the very small (subatomic particles). The quest for a unified theory of quantum gravity — one that explains how space-time behaves at the quantum level — has long eluded scientists.

Quantum computing could provide the computational power necessary to model and simulate these interactions at an unprecedented scale. Recent research suggests that space-time itself may have a quantum origin, potentially emerging from entangled networks of information. If this is the case, understanding and manipulating these networks could give us control over the very structure of space-time. Novel quantum algorithms could lead to breakthroughs in space exploration and teleportation technologies (SpaceX to TimeX…).

The implications are profound, especially as it relates to time. The companies that get there first will not just disrupt industries but will create entirely new ones.

Time Manipulation

Perhaps the most tantalizing possibility of quantum computing lies in its potential to “travel” through time, not in the conventional sense, but through the manipulation of information. Time, as we understand it, is a linear progression from past to future. However, in the quantum world, time may be more flexible, with the past, present, and future existing simultaneously — a concept known as block universe theory. This aligns with the idea of the “multiverse,” where all possible timelines coexist, and reality is a matter of which path we observe or influence.

Quantum computers could enable us to navigate this vast landscape of possibilities. Through quantum simulations, scientists could theoretically explore different timelines and predict outcomes with astonishing accuracy. The concept of “quantum retrocausality” — the idea that future events can influence the past — is already being explored in theoretical physics (and links fairly well to ideas like intuition and precognition). If quantum computing can harness this phenomenon, it could allow for limited forms of time manipulation, such as correcting errors in the past or optimizing decisions before they occur.

The company that succeed in developing quantum systems capable of modeling or influencing time will fundamentally redefine how we interact with reality itself.

Ethical and Philosophical Implications

As with any groundbreaking technology, quantum computing raises profound ethical and philosophical questions. What happens if we gain the ability to alter or manipulate time? Would we create paradoxes, such as the infamous “grandfather paradox,” where changing a past event prevents the present from occurring? Or would time manipulation be limited to small-scale corrections and optimizations?

Some of these elements, on a more experiential level, were explored in federally-funded government programs, such as the Gateway Program.

Moreover, if quantum computing enables us to simulate entire realities or alternate timelines, we must confront the question of what constitutes “real” experience (and perhaps answer Bostrom’s question…). If so, could quantum computers one day allow us to create or escape simulations at will?

Quantum computing is undeniably reshaping our understanding of the universe, making it the unicorn of technological development to help us understanding existence itself.

The companies that succeed in harnessing quantum computing will create and explore the mysteries of space-time and possibly even rewriting the rules of time and therefore innovation itself.