It’s a plot device beloved by science fiction: our entire universe might be a simulation running on some advanced civilization’s supercomputer.

But new research from UBC Okanagan has mathematically proven this isn’t just unlikely—it’s impossible.

A new study from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, published in Science, presents a long-term roadmap positioning porous materials as a cornerstone of future energy technologies. Led by Prof. David Eisenberg and Dr. Eliyahu Farber of the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry and the Nancy and Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program, the research highlights how porous structures—defined by the interplay between matter and empty space—govern the flow of energy in forms such as mass, electrical charge, heat, radiation, and mechanical pressure.

Porous materials already play central roles in technologies such as underground fuel extraction and battery charge conduction. According to the researchers, the next wave of innovation hinges on the intelligent design of these structures to optimize mass and charge transfer, enabling significant improvements in energy production, conversion, and storage.

By analyzing advanced and biomimetic (nature-inspired) architectures across multiple fields, the team identified trends that could shape future applications—from using porous materials to reduce power consumption in electronic chips to developing improved shock-absorbing materials for biomedical implants.

The study integrates principles that apply across all scales, from atoms to full systems, and offers generalizable models to predict energetic behavior and boost performance. These models could accelerate the development of next-generation materials for solar cells, batteries, electrochemical systems, and sustainable fuel production—advancing global energy goals.

The research was supported by the Israel Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.