The way the cosmos operates is similar to how a computer simulation works. Quantum physics, a branch of science that studies the tiniest particles in the universe, has a law that says subatomic particles have no distinct state unless they are detected. This means that objects only become real when we observe them. Terrell believes that this paradox can be explained by the fact that we're living within a simulation that only shows us what we need to see when we need to see it to save computer power