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Physics

Quantum 'arrow of time' suggests early universe had no entanglement

One way to explain why time only moves forward is the quantum arrow of time, and it has major implications for both the universe's early period and its eventual demise

By Leah Crane

27 May 2024

Was there entanglement at the dawn of time?

Panzer/Shutterstock

In the beginning, there was no quantum entanglement. That is the conclusion of a study exploring the so-called entanglement past hypothesis. The finding is part of a quantum reinvention of our notions about why time only flows in one direction.

When two particles become entangled, each can no longer be thought of as an independent object – their properties are tied together, even if they are physically far apart. However, unless these particles are…

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