Are Space Wormholes Scientific Nonsense?
Space-time Will Tell.
Although the concept was introduced much earlier, theoretical physicist John Archibald Wheeler coined the term wormhole in 1957. As re-defined by science fiction enthusiasts, a wormhole is a shortcut through space-time. That concept would allow for time travel, or if not, at least an alternative way--a quicker way--of getting from "Point A" to "Point B."
Is this such a strange notion that it should not be considered? Perhaps the answer is, Not at all. Consider a kind of atomic counterpart that is viewed as equally strange--quantum tunneling. At least, this is the way some view matters.
Quantum Tunneling
Curiously, even as waves sometimes act like particles, so too, particles have certain wavelike properties. Thus subatomic particles having an energy less than that of a barrier standing in their way still have a finite probability of penetrating that barrier and appearing on the other side. We won't get into the math here. Suffice it to say that the phenomenon is not unknown and is part of the theory of transistors.
Space-time - Is it Deformable?
It appears that space-time is indeed deformable. Of course scientific theories are not written in stone. Current theory thus makes it seem the science-fiction variety of wormhole may at least have some basis for serious consideration.
Not Putting All Our Eggs into One Basket
Theories come and theories go like waves of the sea. In time, matters of truth establish themselves beyond doubt. Yet, it is interesting to think of the possibilities these theories present. Will it one day be possible to go from one place to another rapidly, no matter how far apart those places are? May it even be possible to travel without the use of a vehicle of transportation? Time--space-time--will tell!
University of Oregon - Quantum Tunneling
Space.com - Einstein's Warped View of Space Confirmed
Published by Vincent Summers
My secular expertise includes 23 years of experience at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, with a share in NASA's extended Voyager 2 effort. I formerly wrote for Demand Studios, Bukisa, Suite 101, Exa... View profile
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26 Comments
Post a CommentI liked it. I think we're essentially talking about what Austrian physicist Ludwig Flamm realized in 1916. He found that the Schwarzchild solution to Einstein's equations describe what we now call a Schwarzschild wormhole, further developed by Einstein and Rosen in the 1930's. Writer D. Toomey has written on this topic.
I'm not certain a lot of them are really all that intelligent. They merely do an exquisite job of fooling one another.
Haha! I sometimes wonder if astrophysicists just make stuff up. I mean, when they talk about "a billion billion" something-or-other, or a trillion-light-somethings, it can sound so preposterous but who can contradict them?! I guess they're incredibly brainy but most of us have no way of knowing or ever checking if they're talking nonsense or not!
Very interesting - I think I understand it, too!
Forget space - I would love to get from here to someplace warm with a beach in an instant. Especially in the dead of winter.
very interesting article. Anything is possible. Traveling by wormhole would be pretty sweet. If possible I doubt I would reap the benefits in my lifetime. Space is so vast and interesting that I cannot wait until the next discovery.
My oldest son enjoyed this article. He says "They're probably real but trying to travel through one would kill us."
Very cool! I have to admit, though, that I always got confused when watching any Star Trek episode in which the space-time continuum was breached--not sure I could handle going through a wormhole!
Great work on this.
I heard about wormholes on the History Channel show The Universe. Always wondered if these were possible. If so that would explain how 'aliens' from distant galaxies can travel to Earth.