The Last Theory Why is space three-dimensional? with Stephen Wolfram
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Jan 15, 2025 
Stephen Wolfram, a distinguished computer scientist and physicist known for creating Mathematica and Wolfram Alpha, delves into the intriguing concept of why space is three-dimensional. He discusses how our familiar three-dimensional experience emerges from hypergraphs, a key structure in his model of the universe. Wolfram challenges traditional views by exploring the role of observers in shaping our perception of space and time. He also hints at a more complex underlying structure that could redefine our understanding of dimensionality and computation.
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Space as Emergent Property
- Space might be an emergent property of the model, not a fundamental one.
- Wolfram suspects our perception of three dimensions is linked to our nature as observers.
Early Universe and Dimensionality
- Wolfram believes space starts as infinite-dimensional and cools down.
- Observers, like us, would struggle to exist in the early universe's conditions.
Perception of Space
- Our ability to "gulp" in space as a single state is due to our size, perception range, and the speed of light.
- If our processing speed were different, our perception of space might change.