Scientists took two of the most precise clocks in existence. One of them was put on a supersonic airplane flying at high speed, while the other was left on the ground. Both were turned on and off at the exact same time.
...which was presumably measured with the third-most precise clock in existence.
I'm not doubting that time is something greater than a convenient method for understanding causality, but in that example as provided, the result is far from "evidence" of anything.
For one, the mechanisms of the clocks. Clocks are machines...an assortment of interlaced and codependent mechanisms that all require each other to work correctly. By changing the conditions under which they operate (as you are by putting one on the ground and one in a supersonic plane--a moving one--, which means that temperature, altitude, velocity and various other conditions are totally different and therefore not comparable at all) you assure that any discrepancy between the final two readings can, potentially, be the result of too many other factors for it to be of any use.
Secondly, there's the human error. If you ask two people to turn the clocks on and off at exactly the same time...well...it won't happen. It's impossible. Human reflex isn't nearly that precise.
Thirdly, you cite a difference of "less than a billionth of a second between the two." Which is...um...not really indicative of anything? It's definitely within the margin of error.
Without knowing what experiment you're referring to (you may not even know) I can't say for sure that it's flawed. But as you've described it, I might as well prove the reality of Time by throwing one alarm clock into my toilet, and putting the other in the microwave.
I read it in a science mag sometime, I don't know the exact details.
Actually, time travel is possible. It's one-way, though, so it's only possible to go to the future (as far as we know).
I am in no way responsible for you getting stuck in the future if you decide to time travel.
Well, if we want to get really technical WE'RE TRAVELLING THROUGH TIME RIGHT NOW.
And it looks like we're stuck in the present. How boring.
I was thinking about this, technically we're all traveling through stime since the days keep advancing for forward. We can't go back but we have been in the past and everything's been done so there's nothing we can change, but no matter where we are in time that will always be the present. Since you can't go back that stays the present and becomes the past so that means you will never be in the future. The future hasn't happened the future is nothing. So I'd like to theorize that the future does not and never will exsit. (I need to get better at organizing my words)
@Peach Yeah, I agree. It's my conclusion that the only time that exists is the present, the past "exists" only through memory and records, and the future "exists" only through projected thinking/planning/imagination. In other words, everything but the present exists in our mental space, but not in physical actuality.
Time - as in calendars and clocks - is merely a man-made concept. The fact that there have been numerous different calendars throughout human history is proof that our current measurement of time is arbitrary, not absolute. However, the perceived passage of time is a universal mechanism which allows us to recognise sequential events and cause and effect. Like Chicken Brutus said, "a convenient method for understanding causality".
By that reasoning, time travel is impossible because the only moment in existence is now. Thankfully though, now is all we need for action.
Apologies in advance, as one day I will reach my goal and control time and space, that may actually be an elderly me in the vid, shortly before I rip the 'verse a new one and kill us all. I can't believe this story has received so much attention round the world. It's stupid.
As for time, yeah, it's been around a lot longer than the humans who now record it, the Universe has it's own rules.
I guess you're right. Travelling into the future is merely time passing more slowly than for someon else because of travelling much, much faster. But when you 'arrive' in the 'future' than that future is now the present.
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Topic: Time Travel Debate
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