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First Experimental Evidence That Time Is an Emergent Quantum Phenomenon
KentuckyFC writes "One of the great challenges in physics is to unite the theories of quantum mechanics and general relativity. But all attempts to do this all run into the famous 'problem of time' — the resulting equations describe a static universe in which nothing ever happens. In 1983, theoreticians showed how this could be solved if time is an emergent phenomenon based on entanglement, the phenomenon in which two quantum particles share the same existence. An external, god-like observer always sees no difference between these particles compared to an external objective clock. But an observer who measures one of the pair — and so becomes entangled with it--can immediately see how it evolves differently from its partner. So from the outside the universe appears static and unchanging, while objects that are entangled within it experience the maelstrom of change. Now quantum physicists have performed the first experimental test of this idea by measuring the evolution of a pair of entangled photons in two different ways. An external god-like observer sees no difference while an observer who measures one particle and becomes entangled with it does see the change. In other words, the experiment shows how time is an emergent phenomenon based on entanglement, in which case the contradiction between quantum mechanics and general relativity seems to melt away."
But only from the point of view of an external god-like observer.
You see, the story had not yet been entangled, so to the outside observer, there was no change.
Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
At least this time they're not pointing loaded guns at cats.
Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
Most of them are still trying to figure out the info on the relevant Wikipedia pages, ya know, so as not to sound too stupid when commenting here :-)
The headline should be really about the creation of a Godlike observer, which was a prerequisite for this experiment.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
We need to start likening things to quantum physics. At this point rocket science is frikkin' easy compared to all this quantum stuff.
Sheldon Cooper would agree:
Missy: Yup, I’m always bragging to my friends about my brother the rocket scientist.
Sheldon: You tell people I’m a rocket scientist?
Missy: Well yeah.
Sheldon: I’m a theoretical physicist.
Missy: What’s the difference?
Sheldon: What’s the difference?
Missy: Goodbye Shelly.
Sheldon: My God! Why don’t you just tell them I’m a toll taker at the Golden Gate Bridge? Rocket scientist, how humiliating.
On a related note, maybe it's time for me to change my username...
Time is an illusion. Lunch time doubly so.
Slashdot - News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters, in ISO-8859-1 Has just realised that beta makes this signature redundant
The headline should be really about the creation of a Godlike observer, which was a prerequisite for this experiment.
Let's give Mr and Mrs Norris a bit of privacy for that one.
Just ignore him... NURSE! He's out of bed again!
Slashdot - News for Nerds, Stuff that Matters, in ISO-8859-1 Has just realised that beta makes this signature redundant
No, dammit, that's me!
If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
Dude, most people here have big enough egos as it is without referring to them as "god like," even if you do it indirectly.
much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
He is all those three, plus one more: omnihumorous.
We just haven't got the punchline yet.
we're probably folded up in some fat guy's wallet.
rewriting history since 2109
You want to be like the Greeks, and can't even say the word "FUCK"?
What the fuck is wrong with you?
If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
You want to be like the Greeks, and can't even say the word "FUCK"?
What the fuck is wrong with you?
Don't you mean "What the FVCK is wrong with you?"
I'm a Godlike observer, but only when I have mod points.
The problem is that they keep formulating and performing these measurements where the scientists work.
Everybody knows time doesn't pass at work. If they'd re-run the experiment under a rainbow or with a beautiful woman they'd find that time passes far too quickly in fact.
That doesn't normally stop anyone from commenting.
"Time, we know, is relative. You can travel light years through the stars and back, and if you do it at the speed of light then, when you return, you may have aged mere seconds while your twin brother or sister will have aged twenty, thirty, forty or however many years it is, depending on how far you traveled. This will come to you as a profound shock, particularly if you didn't know you had a twin brother or sister."
The preceding comment is my own, and in no way construes an opinon of the Emperor of Mankind.
Step 1. Become Godlike ....
And if you become entangled with one of the comments, your Godlike status disappears.
Slashdot: 1; Quantum Mechanics: 0
You mean it's not quantum physics. Ahem.
Occasionally living proof of the Ballmer peak.