interflattening

Interflattening is a term coined by theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli to describe a concept in quantum mechanics. It refers to the idea that the universe, at its most fundamental level, does not possess a fixed, absolute direction of time or a distinct separation between past and future. Instead, Rovelli suggests that events are interconnected in a complex network where the distinction between cause and effect can become blurred or relative depending on the observer's frame of reference.

The concept arises from the principles of general relativity and quantum mechanics, which describe the universe at different scales. While general relativity deals with gravity and spacetime on a large scale, quantum mechanics governs the behavior of particles at the subatomic level. When these two theories are considered together, particularly in extreme conditions like black holes or the early universe, the traditional notions of time and causality begin to break down.

Interflattening proposes that our perception of a linear flow of time, moving from past to future, is an emergent property of our macroscopic experience. At the quantum level, events might not be ordered in such a definitive way. This idea challenges our intuitive understanding of reality and suggests that the universe might be more interconnected and less sequential than we commonly perceive. It is a theoretical framework that aims to reconcile the seemingly contradictory aspects of spacetime and quantum entanglement.