Scott Aaronson argues that, based on what we know about quantum mechanics, Wolfram's "long-range thread" cannot reproduce special relativity and Bell inequality violations:
www.scottaaronson.com/papers/nks.ps
It seems to me that Aaronson's argument can be easily bypassed by adding non-local hidden variables in the form of a loosely connected network that essentially injects pseudo-randomness into the approximately flat Minkowski spacetime network. Note that Bell's inequality does not rule out non-local hidden variables as a viable explanation of quantum mechanics.
Re:What Is Spacetime, Really?
by openasocket on Wednesday December 02, 2015 @06:10PM
(#10666581)
So quantum effects like entanglement are distortions in the structure of the network. So basically quantum effects are due to distortions in space-time, i.e. there is a 'worm hole' type structure connecting entangled particles?
This is getting out of my depth, but isn't that basically what Loop Quantum Gravity proposes?
Bell's theorem assumes that spacetime is locally Euclidean so it is not relevant when there are networks and rules that allow for causal connections that appear to be an observer at a distance.
"Because there’s a theorem (Bell’s Theorem) that says that unless there’s instantaneous non-local propagation of information, no such “hidden variables” model can reproduce the quantum mechanical results that are observed experimentally."
Wolfram's continues by saying he is allowing instantaneous non-local propogation because network nodes have no coordinates; coordinates (and dimensions themselves) arise as a result of how nodes are connected.
"And even though the network may mostly correspond on a large scale to 3D space, it’s perfectly possible for there to be 'threads' that join what would otherwise be quite separated regions."
He has changed the definition of locality.