What Does This Mean?

At first glance, the notion that information could be a form of matter seems far-fetched. Many in the scientific community share this skepticism, questioning how information could possess mass in the same way that physical states do. However, a deeper dive into the concept reveals that it might not be as absurd as it initially appears.

The idea isn't entirely novel. For this hypothesis to hold water, a method for quantifying information is necessary. This is where the field of electronics comes into play. Allow me to elaborate.

In the 1940s, mathematician Claude Elwood Shannon laid the foundation for Classical Information Theory, which addresses how to measure, store, and transmit digital information. Shannon is often referred to as the "father of the digital age" due to his groundbreaking work demonstrating that mathematical principles could be applied to electrical systems.

Following this, he was recruited by Bell Labs to explore how to effectively transfer information via wires. His contributions led to the first definition of a unit of information, termed a "bit." In this context, the idea of information having mass becomes less radical. Our devices—smartphones, computers, and USB drives—are essentially carriers of measurable bits of information.

Does Information Have Weight?

However, the theory becomes even more intriguing when we step beyond the realm of digital information. For information to truly be recognized as the fifth form of matter, it must also have a physical presence. This notion was advanced by German-American physicist Rolf Landauer, who, two decades after Shannon, proposed that the act of erasing a single bit of information incurs a thermodynamic cost. This principle, known as the Landauer Principle, attempts to establish a connection between information and energy.

The Landauer Principle has withstood the test of time, suggesting a link between information and thermodynamics. Building on this, physicist Dr. Melvin Vopson from the University of Portsmouth posited that this relationship implies information is indeed physical. He proposes that information is a fundamental unit of the universe, possessing both mass and energy.

Vopson theorizes that every elementary particle—our universe's fundamental building blocks—harbors information about itself, akin to how DNA encodes information about living beings. In a 2019 paper, Vopson introduced the concept of mass-energy-information equivalence, asserting that information is not only massive but also a critical component of the universe. He stated, "I am the first to propose the mechanism and the physics by which information acquires mass, as well as to formulate this powerful principle and to propose a possible experiment to test it."

Testing the Hypothesis

In March 2022, Dr. Vopson published a follow-up paper outlining a proposed experiment to definitively determine whether information indeed possesses mass. His experimental design involves creating a particle-antiparticle collision, allowing for the detection and measurement of information within an elementary particle. He explained to Phys.Org:

"The information in an electron is 22 million times smaller than its mass, but we can assess the information content by erasing it. When matter collides with antimatter, they annihilate each other, and the information from the particle must go somewhere."

In Vopson's framework, when an electron collides with its antiparticle, the residual mass is transformed into energy—specifically gamma photons. However, he hypothesizes that the information contained within the particles is converted into low-energy infrared photons instead.

Remarkably, his theories do not contradict existing laws of physics related to quantum mechanics, classical mechanics, electrodynamics, or thermodynamics; rather, they complement them. The challenge lies in the substantial funding and resources required to conduct such experiments, leaving us to wait for confirmation on whether information truly is the fifth form of matter.

A Shift in Perspective

Many of us accept what we learned in school as absolute truth, failing to acknowledge that "facts" evolve as new information emerges. We were taught that solids, liquids, gases, and plasma encompass all forms of matter in the universe. Yet, given the vastness and complexity of the cosmos, could it really be so far-fetched to propose the existence of additional forms of matter? If so, the notion of a fifth form becomes less implausible—there may even be more than five!

Even more astonishing is the possibility that if Dr. Vopson's theory holds true, it could explain the missing mass in galaxies, potentially replacing or even eliminating the concept of dark matter altogether. Essentially, Dr. Vopson suggests that dark matter might actually be a manifestation of information—a truly groundbreaking idea.

This article originally appeared in the author's free newsletter, Curious Adventure, and has been edited and republished on Medium with permission.

Katrina Paulson is a writer who explores the mysteries of humanity, unanswered questions, and new discoveries, sharing her insights on Medium and in her newsletters, Curious Adventure and Curious Life. Subscribing to either newsletter grants access to her articles and nearly two years of archived content. Your support helps Katrina continue her passion for exploring curiosities and sharing them with her readers. Thank you for your interest; she values your engagement.