New theory suggests time is an illusion created by quantum entanglement

A new definition of time suggests that what we once thought was a fundamental part of our physical reality may actually be just an illusion created by quantum entanglement. This is a very bold statement and one that certainly requires a bit of research to fully understand. So, let’s dig in.

To understand the heart of this new theory, we need to understand a few things, including quantum entanglement. In its most basic definition, quantum entanglement occurs when two objects are so inextricably linked that when one is disrupted, so is the other, regardless of the distance between them. We also need to understand how time works in “general relativity”.

General relativity says that time is built into our universe, that our physical reality takes place in space-time, and that time can warp and expand in the presence of gravity; Scientists think we saw the Milky Way’s black hole warping space-time around it. However, quantum theory states that time is not changeable in any way. That doesn’t change. Many physicists believe that the definition of time in the two theories should be consistent. To prove it, Alessandro Coppo and other researchers set out in search of a new way to define time.

The suggestion here, at its core, seems to be that time is purely a consequence of entanglement. It states that the only reason an object appears to change over time is because it is entangled by a clock. As such, anyone observing the universe from the outside would see it as completely static and unchanging.

It’s certainly an interesting new way to try to define time. Although many physicists believe the new definition of time is promising, some details still need to be worked out to fully understand exactly what time is and whether it is truly a consequence of quantum entanglement. There’s also the question of whether or not we can test any of these ideas.

The researchers published their results in an article published in Physical examination A.