University of Birmingham builds 'mini-universe' to test clockless time
Ever wondered if time could exist without a clock? Scientists at the University of Birmingham just built a tiny "mini-universe" to find out.
Led by Professor Giovanni Barontini, their experiment cooled 24,000 rubidium atoms to almost absolute zero and watched what happened as things changed inside this closed system.
Researchers observe 'entropic time' with lasers
By splitting the atom cloud into bright and dark regions with lasers, researchers tracked how time moved forward when the cloud shifted, but time stopped when everything settled.
This idea, called "entropic time," backs up theories that say our universe doesn't actually need a built-in clock.
The team hopes their setup can help us understand wild stuff like the Big Bang, black holes, and maybe even where our universe is headed next.