Is Time Real? Renowned Physicist To Tackle The Question At Guildford Book Event

Published on: 9 Oct, 2026
Updated on: 9 Oct, 2026

Prof Jim Al-Khalili: “Time is such a fascinating mystery”

The nature of time has puzzled philosophers and scientists for thousands of years. Did time have a beginning and will it have an end? Why does time appear to flow forwards rather than towards the past? And at the deepest level: is time real?

These questions are tackled in renowned physicist Jim Al-Khalili’s new book and he will be joining fellow astrophysicist Dr Noelia Noël, from the University of Surrey, for a conversation at the Guildford Book Festival. Together they will explore one of science’s greatest mysteries: the nature of time.

The event, which will take place on Tuesday evening, October 13, at Guildford Baptist Church, will centre on Professor Al-Khalili’s book, On Time: The Physics That Makes the Universe Tick.

The conversation between the two scientists will take audiences on a journey through physics, philosophy and cosmology, unpacking what modern science can tell us about something that governs every moment of our lives yet remains mysterious.

Professor Al-Khalili said: “Time is something we all experience, but the deeper you look, the stranger it becomes. Quantum mechanics, relativity and thermodynamics all give us different ways of understanding what time is and how it works. That’s what makes it such a fascinating mystery – we live our whole lives by it, yet there is still so much we don’t understand.”

Dr Noelia Noël: “In physics, time becomes wonderfully strange”

Dr Noël said: “Jim has a wonderful ability to make some of the biggest questions in physics accessible, exciting and relevant to everyone. Time is something we all think we understand because we experience it every day, yet in physics it quickly becomes wonderfully strange.

“I’m really looking forward to exploring those ideas with Jim and sharing the conversation with audiences here in Guildford.”

Professor Al-Khalili is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Physics at Surrey, a Fellow of the Royal Society and one of the UK’s best-known science communicators. He has written numerous popular science books, presented TV documentaries and is best known for his long-running BBC Radio 4 programme The Life Scientific.

Dr Noelia Noël is a Senior Lecturer in Astrophysics at the University of Surrey’s School of Mathematics and Physics. She has received multiple awards and recognition for her work, including a prestigious 2026 Leadership Fellowship in Public Engagement from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), recognising her contributions to astrophysics and sustainable space research.

The ticketed event, “Jim Al-Khalili in conversation with Dr Noelia Noel – On Time”, is dedicated to the memory of Patricia Grayburn in recognition of her strong and lasting connection with the University of Surrey.

Tickets available at: Buy tickets – Jim Al-Khalili in conversation with Dr Noelia Noel — On Time – Guildford Baptist Church