In this metaphor we actually have a picture of the computational universe, a metaphor which I hope to make scientifically precise as part of a research program.
Nothing in life is certain except death, taxes and the second law of thermodynamics.
According to the standard model billions of years ago some little quantum fluctuation, perhaps a slightly lower density of matter, maybe right where we're sitting right now, caused our galaxy to start collapsing around here.
Science consists exactly of those forms of knowledge that can be verified and duplicated by anybody.
Similarly, another famous little quantum fluctuation that programs you is the exact configuration of your DNA.
In order to figure out how to make atoms compute, you have to learn how to speak their language and to understand how they process information under normal circumstances.
