Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Letter: The mystery of how time flows, made simple (2)

Published 18 February 2026

From Andrew Hawkins, Peaslake, Surrey, UK

I have my own simple theory of time as an amateur theoretical physicist. Time is the result of the movement of matter, and the movement of matter creates the effect of time for us to measure. Any traditional clock or timepiece has a mechanism that is called its movement; even atomic clocks measure the vibration movement of a crystal. The term space-time should be modified to space-time-motion. Time is real, not an illusion. If it were not so, the entire universe would be static or not exist at all.

Issue no. 3583 published 21 February 2026

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop