Exploring the Present, Time, and Cosmology: A Deep Dive into Quantum Mechanics and the Nature of the Universe

Table of Contents


  1. Introduction
  2. The Nature of Observers and the Present Moment
  3. The Expansion of Spacetime
    • 3.1 The Symmetry of Time: Past, Present, and Future
    • 3.2 The Concept of CPT Symmetry
  4. The Universe's Beginning and End: A Continuous Loop
    • 4.1 The Big Bang and Big Crunch
    • 4.2 Black Holes and White Holes
  5. The Role of Free Will and Consciousness
  6. Entropy and the Present
  7. The Feeling of Change and Its Relationship to Time
  8. Conclusion



1. Introduction


During the course of lockdown, I found myself diving deep into various scientific concepts, particularly in the realms of quantum mechanics and cosmology. This was largely due to watching Sean Carroll's "The Biggest Ideas in the Universe" videos, which spurred me to contemplate the nature of the universe and time in more detail. The insights I've gathered may not be as profound as I initially thought, but they have led to a more substantial reflection on these complex topics. In this article, I attempt to organize and articulate these thoughts in a coherent manner, for whatever value they may provide, whether it be enlightenment, amusement, or even embarrassment.


2. The Nature of Observers and the Present Moment


A central idea in understanding the universe, both from a philosophical and scientific standpoint, is the concept of an observer's position in spacetime. The key insight here is that observers always exist at t=0, x=0, y=0, z=0 in their own reference frame, where these coordinates represent the present moment. While you may choose any coordinates in space, you are always positioned at the origin of your own reference frame. The crux of this is that you can only experience the present—"now."


The past and future are not accessible to you as an observer. You cannot experience “then” or “there.” You are locked in the "now," unable to travel backward or forward in time. This brings us to a fundamental issue with our understanding of time: time is not something you can experience beyond the present moment.


3. The Expansion of Spacetime


3.1 The Symmetry of Time: Past, Present, and Future


Spacetime is constantly expanding. Space itself is stretching outward in all directions, with every point in the universe moving away from every other point. This expansion is a key feature of our understanding of the universe's dynamics.


Time also behaves similarly to space. The past and the future seem to "move away" from the present in a similar manner. In other words, the present moment serves as the point where the past and future meet, and it continuously "fills in the gap" between these two extremes. This idea reflects the concept of CPT symmetry (Charge, Parity, and Time symmetry).


3.2 The Concept of CPT Symmetry


CPT symmetry suggests that the laws of physics remain invariant under the transformation of:


  • Charge symmetry (where electric charges reverse direction in the past and future),
  • Parity symmetry (where handedness or the "mirror image" of objects is reversed),
  • Time symmetry (where the flow of time is reversed).


These symmetries suggest that the past, present, and future are not fixed in one direction. Instead, they are part of a continuous loop, with the present constantly acting as the meeting point between the two.


4. The Universe's Beginning and End: A Continuous Loop


4.1 The Big Bang and Big Crunch


The idea of a continuous loop in cosmology can be observed in the theoretical behaviors of the universe’s beginning and end. The universe may have started with the Big Bang (the global past singularity), and, theoretically, it could end with the Big Crunch (the global future singularity). These two events, though temporally separated, are mirrored reflections of each other, aligned with the symmetry discussed earlier.


4.2 Black Holes and White Holes


Another manifestation of this symmetry is found in the concepts of black holes and white holes. A black hole represents a localized singularity in the past, where the matter is drawn inward to a point of infinite density. In contrast, a white hole is a hypothetical future singularity where matter would be expelled outward in a manner opposite to the black hole's inward pull.


In both cases, the singularities represent the same fundamental concept: points where the normal rules of spacetime break down, yet they are fundamentally connected through the symmetries of time and space.


5. The Role of Free Will and Consciousness


One of the most profound implications of these ideas is their effect on free will and consciousness. Free will, as well as our sense of consciousness, exists only in the present moment. We cannot change the past, nor can we directly alter the future. However, we do have the ability to influence both through our actions in the present, which unfold in a symmetrical manner across both the past and future.


This creates an interesting perspective on choice: our actions in the present have far-reaching consequences that shape both what we perceive as the past and what we imagine as the future. In a sense, the power of free will is not bound to the constraints of a linear progression of time but is an ongoing process that affects both directions—past and future—simultaneously.


6. Entropy and the Present


Another key concept related to the nature of time is entropy, a measure of disorder or randomness in a system. The "present" represents a point of maximum entropy. Both the past and the future, by contrast, are tied to states of minimal entropy, particularly at singularities where entropy approaches zero.


The expansion of space and time is directly tied to the increase in entropy. As time moves forward, the universe progresses toward greater disorder, and the "present" moment is where entropy reaches its highest point.


7. The Feeling of Change and Its Relationship to Time


It is important to distinguish the feeling of change from the normal concept of time. The "change axis" is orthogonal to our usual understanding of time. As entropy increases, space and time continue to expand, and this process gives rise to new moments of the present. In other words, change does not simply happen over time; it is a fundamental characteristic that drives the ongoing expansion and evolution of the universe.


The feeling of change, as we experience it, is intricately linked to the entropy increase that defines the passage of time. As the universe evolves and entropy grows, new moments—new "nows"—emerge, giving rise to our experience of a dynamic, changing universe.


8. Conclusion


In reflecting on the nature of time, the universe, and consciousness, it becomes evident that our understanding is shaped not just by the laws of physics, but also by the intricate symmetries and processes that govern spacetime itself. Observers are always in the present, unable to access the past or future directly, but always connected to both. The expansion of space and time, combined with the symmetries of CPT, creates a continuous loop that bridges both the beginning and end of the universe.


This exploration of time, free will, entropy, and the feeling of change not only sheds light on the philosophical implications of the universe’s structure but also emphasizes the fundamental role of the present moment in shaping our reality.