Clocks created from random events can probe 'quantumness of universe.

A team of scientists from the Department of Physics at King’s College London has discovered a set of mathematical equations that makes it possible to build a clock from any sequence of random events, a finding that redefines the essence of time measurement and establishes a new standard for distinguishing between classical and quantum behaviors in physical and biological systems.

This theoretical framework, detailed in a recent publication, provides the mathematical recipe for transforming seemingly chaotic stochastic processes —from stock market fluctuations to heartbeats— into time-measuring instruments with a precision defined by a fundamental limit.

The research, led by Dr. Mark Mitchison, starts from a premise that is both deeply philosophical and practical: the definition of time that Albert Einstein summarized when he stated that it is what a clock measures. In contrast to the predictable regularity of a wristwatch, clocks based on random events —known as Markov processes, where each event or “jump” only depends on the immediately preceding one— operate in a different regime, making use of the inherent statistics of irregular sequences to estimate the passage of time. The team’s crucial breakthrough lies in having derived equations that not only allow such a clock to be built, but also set the strictest mathematical limit to date on the maximum precision any such classical clock can achieve.

The immediate implication of this finding is twofold. First, it acts as a detector of “quantumness” in the macroscopic world. If a system that appears to behave in a classically Markovian way —that is, governed by the laws of traditional statistical physics— exceeds the precision limit established by the equations, it becomes strong evidence that quantum effects underlie its operation.

This explains, from this new perspective, why quantum technologies such as atomic clocks, which harness the energy transitions of atoms, far surpass the accuracy of any purely classical time-measuring mechanism. The Markovian clock thus stands as a line of demarcation between two realms of physics.

Second, the framework offers a powerful tool for the life sciences. Dr. Mitchison illustrates its application with the example of kinesin, a motor protein essential for intracellular transport. This tiny molecular machine, which advances directionally along cellular microtubules by alternating two “feet,” efficiently converts ambient thermal energy —inherently random— into regular, rhythmic movement, analogous to the ticking of a clock.

The malfunction of this precise process is associated with diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). By modeling these proteins as Markovian clocks, researchers can quantify their efficiency and understand how order and regularity emerge from thermal chaos in biological systems, a principle that manifests across multiple scales, from ecosystems to the interior of a cell.

The development of the theory arose from a fundamental question about the minimum requirements to measure time. Our goal was to discover the minimum ingredients necessary to build a clock, explained Dr. Mitchison. For example, could you measure time accurately even if you were stranded on a desert island? We found equations that tell you how to create a “clock” by counting random events around you, such as waves breaking on the shore or your heartbeat.

The scientist added that this theoretical clock represents the best possible that can be built by counting Markovian events in a system governed by classical physics, so any deviation from its expected pattern reveals the presence of more exotic underlying phenomena, such as quantum behavior.

Beyond practical applications, the work delves into ontological questions of modern physics. Time lies at the heart of many unsolved mysteries in quantum physics, Mitchison reflected. Why does time seem to flow in only one direction? Why do we remember the past and not the future? Is time quantized in discrete fragments, in the same way that energy is? By thinking about what clocks can do, we ultimately hope to answer some of these questions about the nature of time itself. By establishing a fundamental limit in the classical world, this research not only provides a new tool for science but also charts a path toward understanding the deeper rules that govern the universe.

https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2025/09/researchers-discover-equations-that-allow-unpredictable-events-to-be-turned-into-exact-calculations/