All articles tagged with #time
Physicists modeling collapsing neutron stars find that, under extreme gravity, entropy could decrease in their equations, effectively implying time might run backward in that context—a mathematical insight into the arrow of time rather than a real, observable reversal.
Physicists propose using ultra-precise atomic clocks and trapped ions to test whether time can behave as a quantum object, potentially existing in multiple states at once. By cooling ions, controlling quantum states, and exploring squeezed vacuum states, the work aims to reveal quantum signatures of time and explore how relativity and quantum mechanics describe the flow of time.
Physicists show that spontaneous quantum-collapse models, possibly tied to gravity, would make time itself intrinsically uncertain, setting a fundamental limit on clock precision. The predicted effect is far too small to affect current technology, but it offers a testable path toward unifying quantum mechanics with gravity.
A team studying quantum-collapse models (Diósi–Penrose and Continuous Spontaneous Localization) linked to gravity finds that time itself may have a minute intrinsic uncertainty, implying a fundamental limit on how precisely time can be measured. The effect is unimaginably small and would not affect current timekeeping, but it suggests deep connections between quantum mechanics and gravity and offers a way to experimentally distinguish collapse models from standard quantum theory.
New research reexamines the Boltzmann brain paradox, arguing that our memories and the arrow of time arise from assumptions about the past; the team offers a framework that separates physical laws from interpretive choices to better assess whether memories reflect a real history.
A writer interviews about ten people on what they would do with a completely free day and finds that seven become panicked, exposing a productivity-driven culture in which self-worth is tied to output. The piece argues we outsource desires to algorithms and planners, and it advocates small steps—like practicing unstructured time or simple, mindful activities—to reconnect with personal joys outside external validation.
New research argues Einstein–Rosen bridges are not spatial shortcuts but two-directional structures in time, acting as complementary halves of a quantum state with forward and backward arrows of time. This framework preserves information across horizons, offering a natural resolution to the black hole information paradox without new physics and suggesting the Big Bang could be a quantum bounce between time-reversed phases. While it does not imply traversable wormholes, the idea points to a deeper quantum gravity picture and potential observational hints such as remnants in the cosmic microwave background or relic black holes.
TIME, citing two senior Health Ministry officials and hospital data, reports that up to about 30,304 people may have been killed during Iran’s January 8–9 crackdown on protests, a figure far higher than official tallies and possibly excluding military hospitals or hard‑to‑reach areas. The report describes overwhelmed morgues, the use of eighteen‑wheeled trailers to move bodies, rooftop snipers, and a near‑total internet shutdown that obscured reporting. The numbers are unverified, and experts caution against over‑extrapolating from hospital data, but international bodies have begun independent investigations into the crackdown.
Zadie Smith, in her new collection of essays 'Dead and Alive,' reflects on aging, the swift passage of time, generational differences, and her personal experiences with melancholy and vulnerability at age 50, emphasizing the importance of care and understanding across ages.
A geologist from the University of Alaska Fairbanks proposes a fringe theory that time is three-dimensional and space is an emergent property of it, suggesting a new way to understand the universe, though it remains unverified and outside mainstream physics.
A new theory by Gunther Kletetschka suggests that time has three dimensions, with space emerging as a secondary effect, potentially advancing the quest for a unified understanding of the universe and the origin of particle masses.
TIME has released its list of 100 must-read books for 2024, featuring a mix of gripping novels, short stories, histories, and memoirs from both bestselling and debut authors. Highlights include Deborah Jackson Taffa's memoir 'Whiskey Tender,' Yasmin Zaher's novel 'The Coin,' and Percival Everett's reimagining of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' titled 'James.' The list aims to entertain and enlighten readers with diverse and compelling narratives.
A new theory proposes that time may be an illusion created by quantum entanglement, challenging the traditional view of time as a fundamental aspect of physical reality. Researchers suggest that changes over time are due to objects being entangled with a clock, making the universe appear static to an external observer. While promising, this theory requires further exploration and testing to fully understand its implications.
Modern physics suggests time may be an illusion, and philosopher J.M.E. McTaggart argued that time can be proven unreal using logic alone. He proposed two ways to arrange events in time, the B-series and the A-series, but concluded that neither can capture time. Philosophers continue to debate this issue, with A-theorists trying to redefine the A-series, B-theorists accepting the B-series as reality, and C-theorists suggesting that time has no direction. Despite the lack of scientific findings, McTaggart's logical argument has sparked ongoing philosophical discussion about the nature of time.
The article discusses the concept of time in physics, emphasizing that the time of physics is not real time but a mathematical abstraction. It explains that while modern clocks are incredibly precise, they do not reveal the true nature of time and are tools invented to measure aspects of the experiential flow of time. The article warns against mistaking abstract, mathematical time for lived time and emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose of a specific notion of time without attributing ontological primacy to it.