Time travel is a fact or fiction.?

In summary, there are currently two main theories of time travel: the theory of relativity and the wormhole theory. While the latter offers the possibility of instantaneous transportation, it also presents many risks and challenges, such as the need for exotic matter and the instability of wormholes. Alternative theories, like the Tipler cylinder and black hole method, also have their own flaws and limitations. Ultimately, time travel remains a theoretical concept with many obstacles that prevent it from being achieved in a practical sense.
  • #1
Zeeshan Ahmad
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TL;DR Summary
Theories related to time travel explained on the context of their drawbacks
In my search about time travel for
Is it possible or just a fictional thing as many of our estimed scientists and researchers have theoreticalize the time travel some how possible

I have found some interesting information and articles regarding the the possibility of time travel and enlisting the drawbacks within these theories I would like to share with you though the estimed platform

The current theory of time travel

The current theory of time travel
At the moment time travel relies heavily on 2 different theories,
the theory of relativity- which is a recurring theme within this project- and the wormhole theory. The latter was first theorized by Ludwig Flamm[8], whilst he was making solutions for Einstein’s theory. He explained the idea of a ‘white hole’, the opposite of a black hole, an entity which couldn’t be entered from the outside, but energy could escape from. A black hole being a region where the space-time curvature and time dilation are infinite. Flamm also suggested that the entrances to both black and white holes could be connected via ‘space-time conduits’ (much like the ones now used in ‘Doctor Who). Nathan Rosen further developed his theory by introducing the idea of shortcuts through space-time which we now call wormholes. Mathematically, the existence of wormholes was predicted in Einstein’s theory and in 2006 a gamma ray burst with atypical properties was spotted and many believe this to be the first observation of a white hole yet there was not enough substantial evidence to support this claim. Wormholes could allow matter to be transported from one place to another instantaneously. The entrance of a wormhole would be a black hole and the exit therefore a white hole. Although none have been seen to date, many people think that wormholes may work on a subatomic level making it impossible to see them and very difficult to replicate them on a larger scale for human use.

This theory may be useful theoretically but is practically flawed since there are many risks associated with this method of time travelling. Wormholes may never be large enough for humans or even ants to travel through and could lead to certain death for anyone who tries since the conditions required to open a wormhole (great density and energy) will not be endurable by humankind. However, one may argue that the universe is expanding- as proven by Edwin Hubble- and therefore some wormholes may be stretched to larger sizes within the process. Another problem one reaches is that Rosen’s theorized wormholes lack stability and will collapse quite rapidly. The only way to keep these wormholes open for a longer period of time would be with the use of ‘exotic matter’- any non-baryonic matter with unusual properties. Non-baryonic matter is any matter not composed of baryons which is a subatomic particle with an odd number of valence quarks(e.g. protons). This type of matter containing negative energy has never been proven to exist. However, the Casimir effect, a proven phenomenon within physics, may be able to manipulate wormholes. It describes a force that acts between 2 uncharged plates due to the temporary changes in the amount of energy within a point of the electric fields (quantum vacuum fluctuations). But using this effect would also increase the instability of the wormholes and make them even more unpredictable. Particle-antiparticle pair production is a process which creates an electron-positron pair using a photon. It also occurs within a vacuum and uses energy from the photon. Every method of time travel comes built-in with drastic risks that one may expect when trying to defy the laws of physics. However, the wormhole theory in particular is full of assumptions and even the most calculated methods will result in death.


Alternative theories[9] of time travel do exist including the infinite cylinder, also known as the Tipler cylinder[10], which requires rolling a mass much larger than that of our Sun into a cylinder and then rotating it extremely quickly. This could cause a spaceship that was going around the cylinder to be trapped in a closed-time loop thus resulting in time travel. This time machine, proposed by Tipler, unfortunately comes with one major flaw- as suggested in the name- an infinitely long tube is needed. Since infinity is a mystery, the probability of us creating a tube that long is highly impossible at the moment. A similar method can be used, with a black hole instead of a tube. In some ways this may seem more feasible, as black holes do actually exist, but the spaceship would have to travel at around the speed of light. Which as well as being very difficult to do, would most likely cause the spaceship to fall apart before it even reaches that speed (a flaw which was pointed out by Amos Iron). Another theory involves the usage of cosmic strings- hypothetic tubes of energy which stretch out through the universe. They contain large amounts of mass meaning that they can warp the space-time around them thus resulting in time travel. Further research needs to be done within more realistic solutions involving concepts that actually exist like black holes and inventing machinery that can travel fast enough or changing different conditions (density, pressure, energy etc.) so speed no longer remains the limiting factor. At the moment, there is a constant problem with all these theories, they all involve the hypothetical, where nothing is actually near to being practically usable.

I will like to have your expertly view on it
I am also sharing the source for more convenience

https://ysjournal.com/time-travel-fact-or-fiction-a-study-on-the-scientific-social-and-historical-impacts-of-time-travel/

Thank you for your time
Regards Zeeshan
 
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  • #2
Time travel is a fiction now at least. I assume the difficulties you mentioned would require us to know more about quantum gravity of which fundamental theory has not been established yet.
 
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  • #3
Zeeshan Ahmad said:
time travel ... Is it possible or just a fictional thing
Fictional
 
  • #4
If you want to time travel, all you have to do is wait until tomorrow!
 
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  • #5
PeroK said:
If you want to time travel, all you have to do is wait until tomorrow!
All things come to those who wait.
You can slow time down to almost zero, but never make it go faster, or backwards.
 
  • #6
Baluncore said:
You can slow time down to almost zero, but never make it go faster, or backwards.
Vladimir: That passed the time.

Estragon: It would have passed in any case.

Vladimir: Yes, but not so rapidly.

Waiting for Godot, Samual Beckett
 
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  • #7
In my opinion time travel is possible, in both directions but we just don't have the theory and technology yet. We are like middle-age man talking about space travel.
Also I have reason to believe that whatever the theory that allows time travel is, it will require very large amounts of energy to achieve it, of the order of Terrawatts or even higher.
 
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  • #8
Delta2 said:
In my opinion time travel is possible, in both directions but we just don't have the theory and technology yet.
What stops a future inventor of time travel from going back to a time before now, and revealing the time travel technology before it was later invented ?
That should have happened long ago.
 
  • #9
Baluncore said:
What stops a future inventor of time travel from going back to a time before now, and revealing the time travel technology before it was later invented ?
That should have happened long ago.
Good question, this happened in my opinion but it has happened secretly and we don't know it YET. Also as I said the technology can not be used today cause it requires huge energy amounts.
 
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  • #10
phinds said:
Fictional
... and this discussion here proves it right.

Thread closed.
 

FAQ: Time travel is a fact or fiction.?

Is time travel actually possible?

As a scientist, I cannot definitively say whether time travel is possible or not. The concept of time travel is still purely theoretical and has not been proven by scientific evidence. However, some theories, such as Einstein's theory of relativity, suggest that time travel may be possible under certain conditions.

Can we travel to the past or only to the future?

Again, this is a highly debated topic among scientists. Some theories suggest that traveling to the past is impossible due to the paradoxes it would create, while others propose that it may be possible but with limitations. However, traveling to the future is theoretically possible and has been demonstrated through experiments with atomic clocks.

Are there any real-life examples of time travel?

Currently, there are no known instances of time travel in real life. The closest thing we have to time travel is the concept of time dilation, which occurs when an object moves at extremely high speeds, causing time to pass slower for that object compared to a stationary observer.

What are the ethical implications of time travel?

If time travel were to become a reality, it would raise many ethical concerns. For example, changing events in the past could have unforeseen consequences on the present and future. It could also lead to the manipulation of historical events for personal gain, causing a ripple effect on the timeline.

How close are we to achieving time travel?

Currently, we are far from achieving time travel as it is depicted in science fiction. However, scientists are constantly researching and studying different theories and concepts that could potentially lead to the development of time travel technology in the future. It is impossible to predict when or if time travel will ever become a reality.

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