Sideways

76. When Time Slows Down

12 snips
Aug 27, 2025
Dive into the fascinating world of time perception with insights from a movie stuntman and sports professionals. They share experiences of time slowing down during high-stakes moments, exploring the connection between memory and perception. Discover how transformative events can reshape our understanding of time, influenced by science and personal consciousness. Engage with theories from eminent scholars on the nature of time, from Newton to Einstein, and ponder the philosophical implications on human experience. It's a captivating exploration of reality and personal growth.
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ANECDOTE

Childhood Crash That Felt Like Minutes

  • Brian Hite remembers flying over a snowball as a child and experiencing time dramatically slow down in midair.
  • He vividly recalled analyzing where to land and manipulating his body even though the event lasted only seconds.
INSIGHT

Memory Density Explains Slow Motion

  • The common explanation is that intense events leave denser memories, making them seem longer in retrospect.
  • David Eagleman tested this and concluded perception speed doesn't increase; memory encoding does.
ANECDOTE

Stunt Hit That Felt Stretched

  • During a 2004 car-hit stunt Brian felt time stretch as he spun on a roof and struggled to control his body.
  • He later watched footage and found the event much shorter than his extended subjective memory.
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