Physicists confirm 'negative time' is real by asking the atoms themselves
Recent experiments have confirmed the phenomenon of 'negative time' in quantum physics, where photons can appear to exit an atomic cloud before they even enter it. This intriguing behavior was validated by monitoring the excited states of atoms during photon passage. While this discovery adds to the peculiarities of quantum mechanics, it does not imply the possibility of time travel.
- ▪Photons can spend a negative amount of time in a cloud of atoms, exiting before entering.
- ▪The study was published in the journal Physical Review Letters.
- ▪This phenomenon does not suggest the feasibility of building a time machine.
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Physics & Mathematics Quantum Physics Physicists confirm 'negative time' is real by asking the atoms themselves A new experiment confirms that photons passing through a cloud of atoms can spend a negative amount of time there, and the atoms themselves are the ones saying so. By Larissa G. Capella published 20 May 2026 in News When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. An illustration of light being absorbed by an atom. New experiments confirm that some photons can spend a negative amount of time within a cloud of atoms, reaching their destination before they technically enter the cloud.
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