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I've been reading that, all laws of nature and the universe stop existing at a singularity. So where there is a singularity, there cannot be time. A singularity is created when a property of a system becomes infinite. Singularities can be found at black holes, where the density is infinite. Time cannot exist there. Also, if you travel at the speed of light, you yourself will not feel time (means time will not exist for you). Thus, your one second will be equal to infinite seconds in the universe.

Don't know if it's valid though. What could be a strong proof for the same?

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    $\begingroup$ A singularity is a solution of an equation that indicates that the equation is invalid at that point and that it needs to be replaced with a better equation. It's a mathematical artifact, not a physical phenomenon. Time doesn't exist in thermodynamic equilibrium, which is kind of the opposite of a singularity. Why? Because time is what a clock shows and a clock is a system in strong disequilibrium. $\endgroup$
    – CuriousOne
    Commented Sep 19, 2015 at 5:30
  • $\begingroup$ @CuriousOne: That is a very poor description of a singularity in general relativity. $\endgroup$
    – MBN
    Commented Sep 20, 2015 at 13:48
  • $\begingroup$ @MBN: That is the only valid description of a singularity in general relativity. It's the point where we know that GR is guaranteed to be wrong. $\endgroup$
    – CuriousOne
    Commented Sep 20, 2015 at 18:09
  • $\begingroup$ @CuriousOne: That's simply not true! Singular space-times are (geodesically) incomplete space-times. A singularity is most certainly not as you say a solution of an equation that indicates that the equation is invalid. Can you give an example of such a solution in GR? $\endgroup$
    – MBN
    Commented Sep 21, 2015 at 7:14
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    $\begingroup$ @MBN: When a theory predicts an infinity, it's done. There is no measurement that can measure infinities. If you can't measure it, it's not science. I didn't make the definition, but I actually take it seriously. $\endgroup$
    – CuriousOne
    Commented Sep 21, 2015 at 8:04

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Is there a place in the universe where time doesn't exist?

and question:

Don't know if it's valid though. What could be a strong proof for the same?

Please note that "proof" applies to mathematical formulae, not to physics. Physics confirms or falsifies a statement predicted by a mathematical formula. To confirm , one has to measure and measurement includes change and when there are changes time can be defined.

The comment by CuriousOne is correct. Singularities exist only in the mathematics and are a signal for the failure of the model at the singularity.

For example take electron positron attraction in classical electrodynamics. There is a singularity at r=0 . This is eliminated by the quantum mechanical solutions, which allow for stable quantized states . And if the electron and positron fall on each other no infinity appears, but a decay into two photons.

It has a mean lifetime of 125 picoseconds and decays preferentially into two gamma rays with energy of 511 keV each (in the center-of-mass frame). Detection of these photons allows to reconstruct the vertex of the decay and is used in the positron-emission tomography.

This clearly shows the limits of classical modeling with the infinities and the new physics modeling with quantum mechanics.

In a similar way, all measurements confirm special relativity, and its mathematical formulation says that no massive particle can move with the speed of light because there is not enough energy in the universe to reach that velocity.

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  • $\begingroup$ Your first paragraph reminds me of the immortal words of Donald Knuth "Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it." $\endgroup$
    – corsiKa
    Commented Apr 9, 2018 at 17:52

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