We Proved Physics in Zero Knowledge -- Here's What That Means

We proved a physics simulation is correct — without revealing a single parameter. Not with a trusted server. Not with an NDA. With a zero-knowledge proof: 1,088 bytes that anyone can verify in a millisecond. What We Built We constructed a ZK proof system for sonoluminescence — one of the most dramatic phenomena in physics. Drive sound waves through water, and tiny bubbles collapse so violently they reach temperatures exceeding 12,000 Kelvin. Hot enough to emit light. A bubble, producing photons from sound. The governing physics is the Rayleigh-Plesset equation, a nonlinear ODE that describes bubble dynamics under pressure, viscosity, and surface tension. We encoded this equation — step by step, 3,000 integration steps — inside a zero-knowledge circuit built on halo2 PLONK with KZG commitments. What the Proof Reveals The proof exposes exactly three values: Initial bubble radius — what physical setup is being claimed Final temperature — the simulation reached 12,348 K Cumulative emission