What is Time?

Introduction

Time is more than just a sequence of seconds, minutes, and hours. It describes recurring, cyclical processes that govern all life, nature, and the universe. Time helps us bring order to chaos and is a central element in our understanding of change and evolution.

1. What is Absolute Time?

Absolute time is independent of our location or perspective. It is based on constant and universal units such as seconds, minutes, and hours. This static time forms the basis for all periodic processes and is the same throughout the universe.

One second on Earth is one second in a distant galaxy. These static units help us measure processes and synchronize events, regardless of our relative position in the universe.

2. What is Relative Time?

Relative time describes periodic cycles specific to the observer's location. On Earth, we define relative time through the movements of our planet: days, months, and years are based on Earth's rotation and orbit.

Thousands of years ago, people began observing these cycles and documenting them through calendars and schedules. This division helped us understand seasons, plan harvests, and prepare for climate changes. Over time, we removed the concept of "coincidence" from our lives as we started explaining events within the framework of known cycles.

For example, it was once considered a coincidence to "randomly" meet someone. But perhaps both individuals are simply following a predictable pattern we do not yet fully understand. The term "coincidence" often describes a timeframe or pattern that is still unknown to us.

Structures and Civilizations

Many ancient civilizations observed cyclical time periods and immortalized them in monumental structures. Here are some examples:

3. What is Universal Time?

Universal time describes cycles that go far beyond Earth's perception. These cycles, like the movements of galaxies or the expansion of the universe, can span millions or billions of years. They form the basis for universal timekeeping.

We are currently in a new era as Earth has completed a full cycle through all 12 zodiac signs. These 12 signs symbolically represent universal months. Such a cycle, a "universal year," lasts about 24,000 years. Ancient people were aware of these cycles, which is why they began timekeeping with year 1—a symbolic restart after completing a larger cycle.

This universal rhythm shows that time is not just a measure of earthly cycles but also an overarching concept encompassing our entire universe.

Religious Metaphors and Time

Religions often encoded astronomical cycles into metaphors and myths. Examples include:

• Christianity: The birth and rebirth of Christ symbolize the transition of solstices.
• Hinduism: The Yugas describe cosmic ages spanning millions of years.
• Islam: Lunar cycles determine religious holidays like Ramadan.
• Buddhism: The Wheel of Life describes the cyclical nature of existence.

4. What is Quantum Time?

Quantum time describes extremely rapid processes at the quantum mechanics level. Here, events occur within fractions of femtoseconds—time units barely perceptible to human awareness.

To understand this level, we need conversion factors: What happens in a femtosecond at the quantum level could take billions of years on the earthly scale. The same applies to the universe, which appears too slow for us to fully perceive its cycles.

Only when we achieve this conversion can we understand quantum time as we do earthly cycles. This represents the next step in our scientific evolution.

5. Universal Time Units