Most people see nothing unusual when a red laser scatters across a wall. For Danny Goler, the same light becomes something far more unusual under the influence of DMT. He says it reveals a lattice of characters—what he calls “the code”—that convinces him our world may be a simulation.
Goler insists this isn’t a one-time hallucination but a structured pattern he has witnessed repeatedly. “I saw the code,” he told VICE, presenting it as evidence that reality is not what it seems.
Whether it is an optical trick, a drug-induced vision, or something still unexplained, the claim has gained attention. Researchers, writers, and curious observers are now asking if this is simply another illusion—or a clue worth examining.
The Experiment That Sparked Attention
Danny Goler, featured in VICE as a long-time psychonaut, says he has taken part in more than seven thousand DMT sessions. His latest focus is a specific protocol he believes reveals “the code” of reality: inhaling DMT while staring at the cross-shaped reflection created by a 650 nm red laser pointed at a wall. He traces this idea back to what he describes as a pivotal moment in 2020, after which he launched the website codeofreality.com, created Project Veilbreak, and began selling ready-to-use laser kits for $153. Goler claims that more than three hundred people have followed his method, and interest has only grown with the release of a documentary trailer titled The Discovery, which has already gained millions of views on TikTok.
Reactions from those who tried the method vary, but many echo Goler’s conviction. In the trailer, one participant said, “I’ve been under the influence of mind altering substances a lot, and I’ve never seen anything like that.” Another remarked, “It looks like code,” while a third added, “It’s definitely saying something and I just want to take a picture of it and translate it.” The discussion even reached clinical psychiatrist and DMT researcher Rick Strassman, who told Joe Rogan, “If you look very carefully at it, from what I understand, you can see the matrix.”
@dannygoler 🌌 We Live in a Simulation! 🌌 🚀 We're making a movie about it. 🌟 If you'd like to help us make the movie that will change how we see reality, our GoFundMe link is in my Linktree in my bio ☝️ For full context visit my Youtube channel 👉 Dan Go Thoughts (link is also in my Linktree☝️) Aaron Vanden, the incredible director behind the film: 👉 Website – http://www.aaronvanden.com 👉 Instagram – @aaronvanden 👉 Tik-tok – @aaronvanden 👉 Х – @aaronvanden #simulation #simulationtheory #dangothoughts #discovery #laser ♬ original sound – Danny Goler
For Goler, these responses confirm that the phenomenon is not just a personal vision but something real and external. “I know whatever it is that we’re looking at is real,” he told VICE. “Second, that whoever is communicating [through ‘the code’] is as real as you and me. I’m not gonna back down from these claims.” At the same time, he has cautioned against casual experimentation. “DMT is not a joke,” he warned. “The experience can be very confounding and even scary at times. I would say that unless you’re a seasoned experiencer with DMT, don’t try this.”
Why the Brain Sees Patterns in Light
What Goler describes as “the code” has explanations rooted in both physics and biology. When a red laser at 650 nm is diffracted across a surface, it creates what scientists call a speckle pattern—a shifting field of light and dark dots caused by interference as the light scatters. Eye specialists have long used this same principle to measure blood flow in the retina, since the speckle changes predictably with small eye movements. Under normal conditions, it looks like random noise. In a heightened state, the same pattern can serve as a canvas for interpretation.
The eye itself plays a role in why these patterns can appear meaningful. The central fovea is lined with cone cells packed in near-hexagonal mosaics, creating a natural grid through which visual information is filtered. When a speckle field moves across this grid, the brain may organize the dots into repeating, letter-like shapes. Researchers mapping these cone mosaics have shown how this built-in structure influences the way we perceive order in what is otherwise visual noise.
Add in the effects of DMT, and the experience changes dramatically. DMT and similar psychedelics strongly activate serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, which heighten activity in the visual cortex and loosen the brain’s usual filters on perception. Clinical studies confirm that DMT produces vivid imagery within minutes, often blending sensory input with internally generated visions. In this altered state, ambiguous patterns like speckle fields can feel external and deliberate, even though they emerge from the interaction of light, eye structure, and neurochemistry.
How Science Could Put It to the Test
Extraordinary claims require careful testing. To evaluate whether Goler’s “code” is more than suggestion, researchers would need to design a study that rules out bias. The most reliable approach would be a randomized, double-blind setup where participants receive either DMT or a placebo, and look at either a real laser pattern or a sham version matched for brightness. Neither the participants nor the researchers would know which condition is being used, and outcomes would be defined in advance—such as whether people could identify specific symbols above chance level.
One of the biggest challenges in psychedelic research is expectancy. People often recognize when they are under the influence, and this can shape what they report. To account for this, scientists use active placebos, track whether participants guessed their condition correctly, and analyze how those guesses affect results. Only when reports exceed chance despite these controls can the findings carry weight.
Timing also matters. DMT’s effects come on rapidly and fade within minutes, making it difficult to collect consistent data. Researchers such as Andrew Gallimore and Rick Strassman have proposed intravenous infusion models that maintain a steady state of DMT in the body, giving enough time for systematic observation under medical supervision. Alongside subjective reports, objective measures—such as cameras recording the laser display, eye-tracking, and preregistered data analysis—would strengthen the study. This combination would help distinguish between a reproducible phenomenon and an experience shaped mainly by expectation.
Why the Story Went Viral
Once Danny Goler launched Project Veilbreak, his laser-and-DMT method quickly moved beyond underground circles. VICE reported that hundreds of people claimed to try it, and a documentary trailer showcasing the experiment drew millions of views on TikTok. Prominent voices, including podcasters and researchers, amplified the conversation, giving the story momentum across mainstream platforms.
Psychologists point out that part of this spread comes from expectancy—the way belief shapes perception. A 2024 review in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging explained that expectations often influence reports in psychedelic studies, especially when participants can guess their condition. In this case, telling people to look for “the code” primes the brain to interpret ambiguous patterns as meaningful.
Placebo research backs this up. A large self-blinding microdosing study in eLife showed that people who thought they were microdosing reported positive effects, even when they were unknowingly taking placebos. Expectation alone was enough to create believable experiences. Similarly, experiments from the Qualia Research Institute demonstrated that certain patterns designed for tracer effects were unreadable when sober but became legible under psychedelics. These examples suggest that what people report seeing is often an interaction between a suggestive stimulus and a receptive mind, rather than a universal external code.
Perception, Expectation, and Mental Clarity
The debate around Goler’s “code” is less about lasers or simulations and more about how human perception works. Our brains don’t passively receive the world—they actively construct it. What we notice, how we interpret it, and the meaning we assign are influenced by biology, expectation, and state of mind. Recognizing this process matters because it shapes not only what we see, but also how clear and grounded we feel day to day.
Research on psychedelics highlights how dramatically perception can shift when normal filters are loosened. The same principle applies outside of altered states: two people can look at the same situation and draw very different conclusions, depending on their mindset and prior beliefs. This doesn’t mean one is right and the other is wrong—it shows how perception is layered, and how those layers affect emotional balance, decision-making, and even our ability to connect with others.
For readers, the practical takeaway is to become more aware of these filters in everyday life. Noticing when expectation might be shaping what you perceive can create space for clearer judgment. Practices like mindfulness, journaling, or simply pausing before reacting help train attention to what’s actually present, rather than what the mind wants to see. In this sense, the conversation around “the code” becomes a reminder: clarity grows when we examine not just what we see, but how we are seeing it.
The Wellness of Perception: How Expectation Shapes Daily Health
The discussion around Goler’s “code” highlights a truth that extends far beyond psychedelics: expectation has a powerful effect on how we experience the world, including our health. In clinical research, this is seen in the placebo effect, where people often report improvements simply because they believe a treatment will help. The opposite is also true in the nocebo effect, where negative expectations lead to unpleasant symptoms even without a harmful substance. Both show that what the mind anticipates strongly influences how the body responds.
This connection between belief and biology matters for everyday wellness. Consider common examples—someone trying a new supplement, switching to a different diet, or beginning a meditation practice. If the person expects benefits, they are more likely to notice positive changes, sometimes regardless of the underlying mechanism. While this doesn’t mean all improvements are “just in the head,” it does emphasize the importance of awareness. Recognizing when expectations may be shaping an outcome allows us to evaluate what’s genuinely effective and what might be driven by belief alone.
Practical steps can help strengthen this awareness. Keeping a health journal, for instance, makes it easier to track whether changes hold up over time or fade once novelty wears off. Being mindful of marketing claims and looking for evidence from credible studies also builds a healthier relationship with wellness choices. Most importantly, cultivating curiosity—asking not only what we feel but also why we feel it—supports clearer decision-making and a stronger sense of balance.
Curiosity with Caution
Danny Goler’s story may sound unusual, but at its core it reflects how perception, expectation, and belief shape human experience. Whether or not “the code” exists outside of the mind, the attention it has drawn reminds us that our brains play an active role in constructing what we see and feel.
For readers, the takeaway is practical: be curious, but stay grounded. In health, wellness, and everyday life, expectations can amplify outcomes—for better or worse. By questioning bold claims, seeking credible evidence, and paying attention to how our own state of mind shapes experience, we create a healthier space between what fascinates us and what truly benefits us.
In this balance between openness and discernment, curiosity becomes less about chasing illusions and more about building clarity in the choices we make for our well-being.
Featured Image form @dannygoler on Instagram
