Posted inScience

Physicists Create a New Phase of Matter: A “Time Crystal” That Challenges Common Perceptions of Motion and Time

In a new and significant breakthrough in the field of quantum physics, a team of researchers from Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) has successfully developed an innovative type of time crystal, a state of matter that challenges conventional notions of motion and temporality. The research, published in the journal Physical Review X, represents a […]

Posted inAntiquity

A Lunula with Geometric Decoration Found in Portugal Could Reveal the Structure of the Celtic Calendar

A recent study published in the journal Palaeohispanica has revealed a new perspective on ancient timekeeping systems. The research, conducted by Professor Roberto Matesanz Gascón from the University of Valladolid, proposes that the lunula with geometric decoration from the Chão de Lamas treasure (Portugal) could contain information about the synchronization of lunar and solar cycles […]

Posted inAncient Greece

The Revolution of Time in the Hellenistic World: How Clock Time Spread in the 3rd Century BCE

At a time when the passage of time was dictated by the movement of the sun and the seasons, the introduction of “clock time” in Hellenistic Greece, around the 3rd century BCE, marked a radical shift in people’s daily lives. Historian Sofie Remijsen, a researcher at the University of Amsterdam, has delved into this phenomenon, […]

Posted inMiddle Ages, Science

When the Venerable Bede Established That a ‘Moment’ Lasted 90 Seconds

Most historical civilizations, such as the Sumerians, Egyptians, Chinese, Babylonians, Greeks, Mayans… used natural measures of time. These include the day, the solar year, or the phases of the moon. The Egyptians were among the first to divide the day into equal parts, using sundials for daylight hours and merjets, a type of plumb line […]

Posted inCulture, Science

How the Nocturnal Works: the Device that allowed Sailors to tell Time in the Dark (Video)

A nocturnal is a device used to determine local time based on the relative positions of two or more stars in the night sky. Sometimes called a horologium nocturnum (nighttime timepiece) or nocturlabe (in French and occasionally used by English writers), this tool is related to the astrolabe and sundial. Typically constructed of materials like […]