Researchers at the University of Birmingham created a quantum "mini-universe" to measure the flow of time without using a conventional clock [1].
This experiment provides a laboratory testbed for theories regarding quantum cosmology and gravity. By observing how time emerges from within a closed system, scientists aim to determine if time is a fundamental property or a result of internal changes [1], [4].
Professor Giovanni Barontini led the team in the United Kingdom [1], [2]. The study, reported in June 2026 [1], utilized approximately 24,000 ultracold rubidium atoms to simulate a cosmic environment [3]. These atoms were arranged to form a quantum system that allows researchers to track the evolution of the system based solely on its internal dynamics [3], [5].
The research was published in the journal Physical Review Research [1]. The team sought to test whether time can emerge from the correlations between different parts of a quantum system, a concept that challenges the traditional view of time as an external backdrop [1], [4].
By removing the need for an external timepiece, the experiment attempts to answer one of the most fundamental questions in science: what time actually is [1]. The use of ultracold atoms allows for a high degree of control over the quantum state, making it possible to observe subtle changes that would be invisible in larger, warmer systems [3], [5].
While some interpretations suggest the experiment explores whether time is an illusion, the researchers said it is a step toward understanding the nature of time's origin [1]. The project demonstrates how complex cosmic phenomena can be modeled on a microscopic scale to test theoretical physics [4], [5].
“Researchers created a quantum 'mini-universe' to measure the flow of time without using a conventional clock.”
This research represents a shift from theoretical mathematics to experimental verification in quantum cosmology. By simulating a universe with a finite number of atoms, physicists can now test the 'Page-Wootters mechanism' or similar theories suggesting that time is an emergent property of entanglement. If time is proven to be an internal relationship between quantum systems rather than a universal constant, it could bridge the gap between general relativity and quantum mechanics.
