Universe is built on three dimensions of time, suggests new research
Jun 22, 2025 04:36 AM EST
It is believed that matter, motion, gravity, and everything else we know of originated from the three dimensions of space and one of time.
However, a new idea challenges this theory, suggesting that time, specifically in three dimensions, is the true fabric of the universe, with space emerging as a secondary effect..
This strange theory is proposed by Dr. Gunther Kletetschka, a physicist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
His research challenges one of the most deeply held ideas in modern physics: that space and time form the joint foundation of the universe.
Kletetschka suggests that time is not a single, forward-flowing line but a multidimensional framework with three independent directions.
He claims that “viewing time as three-dimensional can naturally resolve multiple physics puzzles through a single coherent mathematical framework.”
A framework that satisfies real-world values
To understand Kletetschka’s proposal, imagine replacing the traditional spacetime framework with a six-dimensional setup: three axes for time and three for space. However, unlike conventional physics, this new theory treats time as the core structure.
Space is no longer fundamental; it’s more like a consequence of how time behaves at different scales and orientations. Kletetschka arrived at this idea by re-examining the role of time in physical equations.
He began with the thought that if space can have three dimensions, perhaps time can, too.
Using this assumption, he developed a mathematical model in which particles and forces interact within a three-dimensional temporal framework.
The important insight is that when this model is applied to fundamental particles, it can reproduce some of their known properties, particularly their masses.
For instance, the Standard Model of particle physics includes detailed data on particles like electrons, muons, and quarks, but it doesn’t clearly explain why these particles have the masses they do.
Kletetschka’s framework generates values that closely match the observed masses of these particles. This clearly shows that he’s not just describing an abstract idea; he’s using it to explain real-world measurements.
“The three-dimensional time framework represents a significant advance in fundamental physics, providing a unified description of nature while making testable predictions,” he said.
“Its mathematical consistency and explanatory power, combined with specific experimental signatures spanning multiple scales and phenomena, suggest it deserves consideration as a candidate theory of quantum gravity and unification,” Kletetschka added.
Multiple dimensions of time, not a new idea
While some theoretical physicists have previously proposed the idea of extra time dimensions, those earlier models largely remained abstract and mathematical, with little connection to measurable physical quantities.
They also faced major challenges; for example, in those models, having more than one dimension of time often led to logical contradictions, such as the possibility of an effect occurring before its cause.
Kletetschka’s theory avoids this problem by designing a mathematical structure that keeps the flow of time ordered across all three time dimensions. In his model, events still unfold in a consistent sequence, even within a more complex temporal framework.
What makes his work stand out is that it is not just a theory but makes concrete predictions.
His framework accurately reproduces the known masses of fundamental particles like electrons, muons, and quarks, which means it connects directly with experimental data in a way previous models did not.
“Earlier 3D time proposals were primarily mathematical constructs without these concrete experimental connections.
My work transforms the concept from an interesting mathematical possibility into a physically testable theory with multiple independent verification channels,” Kletetschka said.
The next steps could involve refining the mathematical framework and identifying specific experiments, especially in particle physics or cosmology, that could test the theory.
If the assumption remains valid in further research, it might offer a new framework for integrating quantum mechanics with gravity, something that physicists have been chasing for generations.
https://interestingengineering.com/science/time-has-three-dimensions
https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/10.1142/S2424942425500045