The concept of time travel tantalizes science fiction, edging closer to becoming reality. For instance, the journey between Earth and the Moon takes about 14 minutes, erasing distances estimated at a quarter million miles, a phenomenon that, according to NASA scientists, is due to the discovery of a black hole moving through space at extraordinary speeds. However, the discovered black hole is not the only path to the future or a way to return to the past. Recent research suggests that the game lies in concealing aspects of Einstein's four-dimensional framework, which consists of space and time (abbreviated as spacetime). If length, width, and height were to "freeze," time could stretch or slow according to the theory of relativity.
Simplifying this theory from physicist Einstein's perspective, time passes more slowly in a space-centered environment at Jupiter than on Earth by a margin of 20 minutes. The equation is as follows: one hour on Earth equals forty minutes on Jupiter, attributed to the effects of high-speed travel close to the speed of light and the magnitude of gravity. Einstein previously attributed this difference to the nature of "spacetime." For example, a clock placed aboard a jet flying faster than the speed of sound for several hours showed a discrepancy in timing between space and Earth upon its return. To further illustrate, time passes for astronauts in space at a slower rate compared to individuals on Earth. Upon returning, an astronaut could be younger than those on Earth, possibly by several seconds or much more, due to the speed of the spacecraft relative to the speed of light. Thus, it becomes a "time machine," an old-new concept considering science's refusal to accept the impossible.
What’s new in this pursuit? Scientists assert, "We are one step away from creating a time machine." How is this possible? The explanation is that researchers managed to momentarily destroy spacetime, revealing that destroying time could enable the construction of advanced computers capable of unveiling what the future holds. The secret lies in the photon, the basic unit of light, a particle that constantly travels through space at the speed of light. As these photons move faster, approaching light speed, time halts, and then they are absorbed by the eye, disappearing completely. Following this, by using hypothetical wormholes and interlinking the photon freed from time and space with a system living in "reverse order," meaning from death to birth, science is inching closer to creating a time machine from different angles, a process that will take decades to come to fruition.
Three Scientific Methods to Create a Time Machine
Scientists embark on their journey to create a time machine based on three hypotheses: the first is increasing speed to approach that of light, according to Einstein's theory, which concludes that time is slower by 2.6 times compared to that on Earth.
The second hypothesis involves slowing human perception of time by halting the body's vital processes and then resuming them later. Here, scientists aim to induce a short-term hibernation state to gain more time for the healing of diseases that medicine has yet to resolve.
The research for a massive gravitational source is the focus of the third hypothesis, where time slows as gravity increases. Therefore, gravity can potentially be harnessed for future travel. Here, the search for a gravitational source, such as black holes, becomes essential as they compress distances. The film "Interstellar" addressed the issue of time dilation, starting from the premise that one hour on a planet near a black hole equates to seven years on Earth.
In mathematical equations: as the speed of an object approaches the speed of light, which is 300,000 km per second, time slows for that object. When the speed of any object reaches the speed of light, time ceases. Should any object exceed the speed of light—a feat that remains impossible—one could potentially see the past.
**Time Travel in Cinema**
Time travel remains one of the most imaginative ideas that captivate the human mind, leading to its portrayal in numerous films and literary works. There are hundreds of movies that tackle the scientific concept with much speculation and excitement, including "Back to the Future," released in 1985, which is considered one of the best time travel films, revolving around "Marty," who uses the time machine of researcher Emmett Brown to travel back to 1955.
Another example is the comedic film "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "12 Monkeys," which follows a prisoner who is offered a deal for his freedom involving a time machine journey to warn humanity about causes that will lead to a severe virus outbreak, complicated further when he is accused of insanity.
The film "Idiocracy" explores the idea of freezing an officer for 500 years, only for him to return to life in 2505, finding that humanity has changed drastically and he has become incredibly intelligent by comparison, soon discovering humans have reached new levels of stupidity.
The film "The Terminator" also stands among the most famous time travel films for action lovers, revolving around a future war between humans and robots, with a professional assassin sent to the past to kill the protagonist's mother before his birth.
What Lies Beneath the Laws of Physics?
Humans have long dreamed of returning to childhood or traveling to the future to experience its surprises and adventures, leading to the recent scientific leap in the race to create a real time machine.
Beyond the question of whether the laws of physics can permit such ventures, sacred texts, including the Quran, suggested the possibility of time travel through events like the "Isra and Mi'raj" and the slumber of the People of the Cave for 309 years, thinking it was only 12 hours. Perhaps one day, humans will reach technologies enabling them to overcome these barriers and travel through time. Who knows?
The lingering question remains: Will it be a journey without return?
