Philip Rushton studied physics at Durham University where he gained an MSci in theoretical physics (1999) with a dissertation entitled Quantum Chaos in Semiconductor Structures. In 2002, he obtained a doctorate in theoretical condensed matter physics from Durham, developing exchange-correlation functionals in Density Functional Theory (DFT). Philip also holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (BA, 2007).

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Philip worked as a technical consultant at Detica, now BAE Systems Digital Intelligence. This included a focused assignment in 2005 at the US National Security Agency (NSA), where Philip had Top Secret security clearance.​ ​Since 2008, Philip has been an independent researcher investigating the problem of life.

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In 2026, Philip launched Rushton Research to develop and test a new theory of life. According to this theory, life is the physical embodiment of a universal communication architecture that can be derived from logic, which Philip calls the Canonical Communication Architecture or CCA. He proposes that this may represent a fundamental principle of the universe, in addition to the conventional laws of physics.

 

Philip would never be so bold as to claim he is right. But he does not think anyone can prove him wrong. This is the Rushton Research Wager.

 

Philip currently lives in his hometown of Liverpool in the UK.