[Greysard]

The method of time dilation certainly works, if you can afford it. However it's much easier to put people in hibernation here, on Earth, and wake them up in whatever time they ordered. Many writers used this approach (in their books :-)

[Caipirabob]

The time machine concept is very interesting, however I'd hesitate to assume too many constants in the universe, such as the position of the planet. Sure, maybe you get it to work and it takes you from your present location and places you in the exact same position 100 years ago. Not accounting for the expansion of the universe, you suddenly find yourself in the empty vacuum of space.

And I assure you, that would suck.

[nevergiveup]

Once again, Hawkins delivers a big pile of nothing.

This article is virtually plagerized from Gamov's Mr. Tompkins in Wonderland which was written in the 1930s or 1940s. (recently updated a decade or so ago)

P.S. Its a great little book for kids.

P.P.S. Heck, I once needed to urgently solve a problem with an ongoing experiment and the only reference I had at the moment was this little story book. It saved the day.

[El Sordo]

Innerestin’.

[TexasFreeper2009]

I have a really simple reason for believing that time travel (at least to the past) will ever be possible....

If it were EVER possible, then people from the future would be visiting the past constantly. There is no way the technology could be contained, anymore than the secret to the atomic bomb could be.

[KoRn]

/mark

[USMCPOP]

If I had a time machine, I’d sell it on Craigslist. I might test it out by going back in time and buying a cheap tank of gas, but them I’d have to remember when unleaded gas came out so I wouldn’t screw up my catalytic converter.

[SuperLuminal]

Hmmm...I just read this same post 16 years from now...

Living here in MD near the most massive black a_hole in the universe has really screwed things up...

Unfortunately for Hawking's mind experiment, driving around the beltway always accelerates (not slows) time for those in a vehicle. Every 5-10 minutes during rush hour your life flashes before your eyes in an instant...

[mware]

As a kid I use to think where I would go if I could go in a time machine.

Always thought it would be cool to take a trip on a wagon train or a clipper ship.

Of course I would have to make sure it was the Donner Party or the Mary Celisse.

[allmost]

He is (Hawking) a liar as usual.

[brytlea]

I really only want to figure out how to put myself thru one and come out about 25 years old.

[LomanBill]

Time’s not a dimension - It’s a derivative function of state change.

[samtheman]

Go to the bottom of this page to use this Relativity Calculator. Enter some value such as .9 or .99 or .999 and click the button labeled 'C'=1 to see some really interesting relativistic-effects values.