1363: "Does the Past Still Exist?"
Interesting Things with JC #1363: "Does the Past Still Exist?" – Einstein called time an illusion. Quantum theory muddies it. But memory…memory makes it real. What if the past isn’t gone, just waiting?
Curriculum - Episode Anchor
Episode Title: Does the Past Still Exist?
Episode Number: #1363
Host: JC
Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners
Subject Area: Physics, Philosophy of Time, Memory Studies, Historical Thinking
Lesson Overview
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Define key concepts in relativity and quantum theory related to time and memory.
Compare the classical and quantum perspectives on the persistence of the past.
Analyze how scientific theories influence human understanding of time, memory, and history.
Explain how personal memory and material culture (e.g., photos, artifacts) contribute to our connection with the past.
Key Vocabulary
Relativity (rel-uh-TIV-ih-tee) — In Einstein's theory, time and space are interconnected and affected by gravity and motion. For example, time passes differently on a satellite than it does on Earth.
Block Universe (blok YOO-nuh-vurs) — A model where past, present, and future all coexist as parts of a four-dimensional spacetime.
Quantum Theory (KWAHN-tum THEE-uh-ree) — A field in physics suggesting that particles exist in states of probability until measured or observed.
Wormhole (WURM-hole) — A hypothetical tunnel in spacetime that could theoretically allow time travel or shortcuts between points in space.
Memory (MEM-uh-ree) — The cognitive process of recalling past experiences, often tied to emotions and identity.
Narrative Core
Open: JC starts by questioning our perception of time and memories—do they still exist, or are they illusions?
Info: Introduces Einstein’s theories on relativity, showing that time is not fixed and has been proven to vary with gravity and motion.
Details: Discusses the “block universe” theory and quantum mechanics, including wormholes and probabilities that challenge linear time.
Reflection: Explores the emotional and human dimension—memory, artifacts, and personal stories—as evidence that the past holds weight even if unreachable.
Closing: “These are interesting things, with JC.”
Futuristic cityscape set in a desert canyon, with towering sci-fi buildings, floating holograms, and figures in robes and robots walking among tents. Text reads: “Interesting Things with JC #1363 – DOES THE PAST STILL EXIST?”
Transcript
You remember a moment—something you said ten years ago. It still feels close. But is it? Does the past still exist?
Einstein thought so. His theory of relativity, published in 1905 and refined in 1915, showed that time is not constant. It bends with gravity and shifts with motion. Two identical clocks…one on Earth, one in orbit, tick at slightly different rates. This isn’t theory. It was proven with atomic clocks flown aboard jets in the 1970s.
This gave rise to what some physicists call the “block universe.” In this view, past, present, and future all coexist. They just occupy different slices of spacetime. Your first birthday, Gettysburg, the fall of the Berlin Wall, they’re all still “there.” We’re just moving through time like a train through stations.
Einstein once wrote to the family of his late friend Michele Besso (mee-KEH-leh BESS-oh): “The distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” He meant it.
But quantum theory adds friction. In the quantum world, events don’t become real until observed. That suggests the past might be more like a set of probabilities—not fixed, but fuzzy.
Still, most scientific models, both quantum and classical, allow for the past to remain in some form. Kip Thorne, a physicist at Caltech, showed that wormholes might one day enable travel backward through time. But that’s still theoretical. No one’s come back through one.
So…does the past still exist?
Maybe in physics, yes. But physics doesn’t bury a time capsule in the yard. Physics doesn’t keep a photo in a wallet for 30 years.
Memory does.
A faded newspaper from November 23, 1963. A voicemail from a voice now gone. A grandfather’s story about Normandy, told in a quiet kitchen. These are not theories. They’re weight. They’re presence.
The past may be unreachable. But it’s never quite gone.
These are interesting things, with JC.
Student Worksheet
What did Einstein’s theory of relativity reveal about the nature of time?
Describe the “block universe” theory using an everyday analogy.
How does quantum theory differ from relativity in its view of time?
Give an example from the episode that shows how memory preserves the past.
Do you agree with JC’s idea that the past is "never quite gone"? Why or why not?
Teacher Guide
Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy:
Introduce the term “relativity” using a short animation or interactive demo of time dilation.
Use image prompts (e.g., photos of clocks, wormholes, time capsules) to activate prior knowledge and elicit predictions.
Anticipated Misconceptions:
Students may think the past "existing" means time travel is currently possible.
Confusion between metaphorical memory and literal physics-based models of time.
Discussion Prompts:
How do our personal memories shape our understanding of history?
Can physics help explain the emotional weight of memory?
Differentiation Strategies:
ESL: Provide visual diagrams of the block universe and quantum probability fields.
IEP: Offer sentence starters for reflection questions (e.g., “I think the past exists because…”).
Gifted: Encourage independent research into Kip Thorne’s work or the concept of entanglement and time.
Extension Activities:
Research project: Investigate another scientist’s view on time (e.g., Hawking, Bohr).
Creative writing: Write a short story imagining you can visit one moment from the past.
Physics lab: Simulate relativity with clock comparisons or simple spacetime visualizations.
Cross-Curricular Connections:
Physics: Time dilation, quantum uncertainty, spacetime.
Philosophy: The nature of existence, determinism, metaphysics.
History: The role of primary sources and personal memory in shaping historical narratives.
Quiz
Q1. What does Einstein’s theory of relativity say about time?
A. It moves faster with age
B. It is fixed and unchanging
C. It bends with gravity and motion
D. It only moves forward
Answer: C
Q2. What experiment proved time dilation using atomic clocks?
A. Moon landing
B. Jet flight with synchronized clocks
C. Underground particle collisions
D. Solar flare observations
Answer: B
Q3. What is the “block universe”?
A. A 3D printing model
B. A video game theory
C. A model where past, present, and future coexist
D. A theory disproved in the 1800s
Answer: C
Q4. According to quantum theory, when do events become real?
A. At the speed of light
B. When photographed
C. When measured or observed
D. After a decade
Answer: C
Q5. What concept did JC use to emotionally connect the listener to the past?
A. Mathematical equations
B. Time travel devices
C. Personal memories and artifacts
D. Black holes
Answer: C
Assessment
Using your own words, explain how Einstein and quantum theory offer different views of time and the past.
Reflect on a personal memory that feels “alive” to you. How does this episode influence how you think about that memory?
3–2–1 Rubric:
3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful
2 = Partial or missing detail
1 = Inaccurate or vague
Standards Alignment
Common Core (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.2):
Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text.
Students identify and evaluate theories of time and memory presented in the episode.
Next Generation Science Standards (HS-PS2-6):
Communicate scientific and technical information about why the molecular-level structure is important in the functioning of designed materials.
While focused on structure, this standard’s method supports analysis of the empirical evidence presented about time dilation.
C3 Framework (D2.Civ.2.9-12):
Analyze the impact of constitutions, laws, treaties, and international agreements on the maintenance of national and international order.
This standard is indirectly relevant through the historical anchoring of the episode in events like Gettysburg and Berlin.
ISTE Standard 3: Knowledge Constructor
Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge.
Students research supporting concepts like relativity, block universe, or memory using reliable sources.
UK A-Level Physics (AQA 7408):
4.6.1: Special relativity—understanding time dilation and simultaneity.
Mapped directly to the segment about synchronized clocks in orbit vs. Earth.
IB DP Physics (Core Topic 10.1):
Describing evidence for time dilation using muon decay or atomic clock experiments.
Supports critical analysis and understanding of spacetime implications.
Show Notes
This episode of Interesting Things with JC offers a deep and accessible exploration of time, memory, and physics. Blending Einstein’s relativity, quantum theory, and the emotional permanence of memory, JC challenges listeners to consider whether the past is ever truly gone. For students, this opens cross-disciplinary learning—from how clocks behave in orbit to how we anchor ourselves to memories. Teachers can use this episode to introduce relativity, support critical thinking, and foster meaningful personal reflection.
References:
Thorne, K. (1994). Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy. W. W. Norton. https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393312768
Hafele, J.C., & Keating, R.E. (1972). Around-the-World Atomic Clocks: Observed Relativistic Time Gains. Science, 177(4044), 168–170. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.177.4044.168
