Is time a fundamental ingredient or an emergent property?

Space · Published 28 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most physicists treat time as a basic building block of reality, but what if it is actually a secondary effect? By shifting the focus from what happens to what can be done, new theories suggest that time might emerge from deeper principles of information and transformation.

Chiara Marletto, a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, explores this possibility through Constructor Theory. Unlike standard physics models that assume time is an inherent dimension or fundamental constant, Constructor Theory seeks to understand the universe by identifying what processes are possible. It moves away from describing 'what is' toward defining the underlying rules for 'what can be done.'

In this framework, time may not be a primary component of the universe's architecture. Instead, it could emerge from more basic elements: clocks, information, and the transformations that occur between states. By focusing on these components, Marletto suggests we can construct a deeper physics that explains how time arises rather than simply taking its existence for granted at the foundational level.

This approach has significant implications for understanding complex systems like life. Marletto applies Constructor Theory to investigate whether features of living systems—such as self-reproduction and evolution—are compatible with fundamental physical laws, particularly quantum physics. By using a scale-independent definition of concepts like irreversibility, work, and heat, this research aims to bridge the gap between the microscopic rules of information and the macroscopic experience of time.

Ultimately, this represents a shift in perspective from traditional thermodynamics and quantum theory toward a more generalized theory of control and causation. It challenges the intuition that time is an inescapable 'given,' proposing instead that it is a sophisticated byproduct of how information can be transformed across different physical scales.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Could time be an emergent property rather than a fundamental feature of our universe?
• Time might not be a fundamental feature of our universe
• What if time is not a fundamental force but a calculation?
• Is time a fundamental reality or a trick of the brain?
• Can we rewrite the laws of physics by focusing on what is impossible?
• Can we prove the world exists using only what we see?
• Is the human soul a passenger or a part of the body?
• Can humanity feed 10 billion people without destroying our biosphere?
• Some cosmic events leave permanent, indelible marks on the fabric of spacetime itself.
• Is the truth about consciousness a fact or a tool?
• Does the progress of science follow the rules of evolution?
• Mapping the Unmappable: Can Science Quantify Subjective Experience?

More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics