Posted on 04/28/2017 1:16:00 PM PDT by Red Badger
UBC math and physics instructor, Ben Tippett. Credit: UBC Okanagan
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After some serious number crunching, a UBC researcher has come up with a mathematical model for a viable time machine.
Ben Tippett, a mathematics and physics instructor at UBC's Okanagan campus, recently published a study about the feasibility of time travel. Tippett, whose field of expertise is Einstein's theory of general relativity, studies black holes and science fiction when he's not teaching. Using math and physics, he has created a formula that describes a method for time travel.
"People think of time travel as something as fiction," says Tippett. "And we tend to think it's not possible because we don't actually do it. But, mathematically, it is possible."
Ever since HG Wells published his book Time Machine in 1885, people have been curious about time travel—and scientists have worked to solve or disprove the theory, he says. In 1915 Albert Einstein announced his theory of general relativity, stating that gravitational fields are caused by distortions in the fabric of space and time. More than 100 years later, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration—an international team of physics institutes and research groups—announced the detection of gravitational waves generated by colliding black holes billions of lightyears away, confirming Einstein's theory.
The division of space into three dimensions, with time in a separate dimension by itself, is incorrect, says Tippett. The four dimensions should be imagined simultaneously, where different directions are connected, as a space-time continuum. Using Einstein's theory, Tippett says that the curvature of space-time accounts for the curved orbits of the planets.
In "flat"—or uncurved—space-time, planets and stars would move in straight lines. In the vicinity of a massive star, space-time geometry becomes curved and the straight trajectories of nearby planets will follow the curvature and bend around star.
"The time direction of the space-time surface also shows curvature. There is evidence showing the closer to a black hole we get, time moves slower," says Tippett. "My model of a time machine uses the curved space-time—to bend time into a circle for the passengers, not in a straight line. That circle takes us back in time."
While it is possible to describe this type of time travel using a mathematical equation, Tippett doubts that anyone will ever build a machine to make it work.
"HG Wells popularized the term 'time machine' and he left people with the thought that an explorer would need a 'machine or special box' to actually accomplish time travel," Tippett says. "While is it mathematically feasible, it is not yet possible to build a space-time machine because we need materials—which we call exotic matter—to bend space-time in these impossible ways, but they have yet to be discovered."
For his research, Tippett created a mathematical model of a Traversable Acausal Retrograde Domain in Space-time (TARDIS). He describes it as a bubble of space-time geometry which carries its contents backward and forwards through space and time as it tours a large circular path. The bubble moves through space-time at speeds greater than the speed of light at times, allowing it to move backward in time.
"Studying space-time is both fascinating and problematic. And it's also a fun way to use math and physics," says Tippett. "Experts in my field have been exploring the possibility of mathematical time machines since 1949. And my research presents a new method for doing it."
Tippett's research was recently published in the IOPscience journal Classical and Quantum Gravity.
Explore further: How Einstein could help unlock the mysteries of space travel
More information: Benjamin K Tippett et al. Traversable acausal retrograde domains in spacetime, Classical and Quantum Gravity (2017). DOI: 10.1088/1361-6382/aa6549
Back again?! GREAT! Nothing I like better than batting around arrogant grammar nazi DU trolls every day. Up early to start that paper route again this morning huh kid?
Haven’t had a paper route since, oh, 1975.
Having demonstrated your complete inability to understand and articulate Special and General Relativity at a 2nd grade level...
Do you have any other Fiction-inspired DelUsions you’d like to share with the class?
Keep ‘em coming clown. I love batting noobs around. You still posting from mom’s basement or have you moved back upstairs into your old bedroom yet? How in the hell did you ever get to be such arrogant and conceited snob like the DU jerks?
What’s it like, “batting” the canvas with your face?
Keep ‘em coming! I love it! Now, get lost noobie troll Phat boy. Go back to the other arrogant jerks like yourself at the DUmp....or at least back to the burger joint you work at.
Nope. Never worked at a burger joint.
Did clean up the software code for a point of sale system used in restaurants a few years back though.
Your projectile DelUsional obsession with burger joints and paper routes doesn’t alter the fact that 2nd Graders know more about Special and General Relativity than you do.
Thus, regardless of whatever you think you learned on Star Trek - time travel is still... BS disinformation designed to confuse and demoralize simpletons like you.
Try harder.
There's a reason why I don't have a subscription to that publication..........
Too costly?...........
>>There’s a reason why I don’t have a subscription to that publication.........
Always interesting when an “organization” cloaks itself behind...
Keep ‘em coming! Now, get lost punk. You impress nobody here on FR with your arrogant conceited crap. Grow the hell up you DU snob noobie troll.
Vs
>>Now, get lost punk.
Confused much?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Your_Brain_on_Drugs
Keep ‘them coming clown. Now get lost. That concept to much for your noob troll arrogant DU brain to grasp huh? I figured as much. Look it up.
Grammar Nazis live! Keep trying sonny. You might figure it out one day you arrogant conceited DU snob troll. Get back to the counter, your burgers are up.
My fellow 2nd graders didn't have a problem distinguishing to from too in 1967.
They also were able to understand what happens to T and M as E approaches infinity.
What grade did you get to anyhow - before the Klingons beamed the contents of your tiny warped brain cavity to some other quadrant of the galaxy?
Keep ‘em coming sonny....now get lost. (You figure THAT out yet you arrogant conceited noob DU troll?) To this, you grammar Nazi jerk.
LOL!....OK, two reasons....
Bring it on! I love this! Now, get lost clown. You are an arrogant noobie DU troll that is also a conceited jerk. Back to work now, LOL!!!
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