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What Even Is Time? An Explainer

Our perception of time is changing constantly. Here’s why—and how to harness the power for good.

Pocket Collections

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

Wondering where the time went? Or why it seems to be moving at a snail’s pace on this fine Thursday (er, Friday? December?) We’ve rounded up some of the top explanations and explorations of how time functions—and the brilliant and pesky things that distort it. From digital clocks to the internet, having fun to getting older, and well, a global pandemic. Take a minute (or an hour? Who’s counting?) and dive in.

Image by VICTOR DE SCHWANBERG/SPL/Getty Images

What We Get Wrong About Time

Claudia Hammond
BBC

Most of us tend to think of time as linear, absolute and constantly “running out”—but is that really true? And how can we change our perceptions to feel better about its passing?