Time Travel

Can we go to the future or revisit the past? Traveling through time is possible psychologically, however physical time travel is an interesting idea.

Time travel is a captivating concept that has fascinated both philosophers and science fiction enthusiasts. While we can't hop into a time machine like the one popularized by H. G. Wells in his science fiction novel "The Time Machine," there are intriguing aspects of time travel to explore.

1. Einstein's Theory of Relativity.

More than a century ago, Albert Einstein introduced the theory of relativity, which links space and time. According to this theory, the faster you travel, the slower you experience time.

• In practical terms, clocks on airplanes and satellites move at slightly different speeds than those on Earth due to their relative velocities.

• For instance, an experiment involving two synchronized clocks—one on Earth and the other aboard a fast-moving airplane—revealed that the airborne clock lagged behind its grounded counterpart. This effect demonstrates the time dilation predicted by relativity.

2. Forward Time Travel:

Forward time travel (relative to our usual perception) occurs naturally and is well-understood within the framework of special and general relativity.

However, significant time dilation—where one body experiences time significantly faster or slower than another—is currently beyond our technological capabilities.

3. Backward Time Travel.

The possibility of backward time travel remains theoretical but intriguing.

• General relativity allows for solutions that permit backward time travel, such as around a rotating black hole.

• Traveling to any arbitrary point in spacetime, however, lacks strong support in theoretical physics and is often associated with quantum mechanics or wormholes.

4. Historical Myths and Legends.

Ancient myths and stories hint at time travel. For instance:

• In Hindu mythology, King Raivata Kakudmi visits heaven and returns to Earth to find many ages have passed.

• The Japanese tale of "Urashima Tarō" describes a fisherman who visits an undersea palace and returns home 300 years in the future.

• In Jewish tradition, Honi ha-M'agel reportedly slept for seventy years and found a changed world upon waking.

• Islamic and Christian narratives also feature time suspension and divine protection.

5. Everyday Implications.

While we can't leap centuries into the past or future, the math of time travel influences our daily lives.

• GPS satellites, for instance, rely on precise time-travel calculations to provide accurate navigation.

• These satellites orbit Earth rapidly, and their synchronized clocks account for both special and general relativistic effects.

While we can't embark on grand time-travel adventures, the interplay of time, space, and relativity shapes our world in fascinating ways.

Sources:

Smith, Nicholas J.J., "Time Travel", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2024 Edition), Edward N. Zalta & Uri Nodelman (eds.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2024/entries/time-travel/>.

Is Time Travel Possible? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/time-travel/en/.

Younus, Muhammad & Nurmandi, Achmad. (2023). Concept of Time Travel and The Different Theories for Making It Possible and The Implications of Time Travelling. Journal of World Science. 2. 10.58344/jws.v2i4.268.