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Miscellaneous => The Lounge => Topic started by: Baikonur on 31 August 2003, 14:30

Title: Time Travel
Post by: Baikonur on 31 August 2003, 14:30

When do you think we'll know for sure if time travel is feasible?

John Gribbin: "Once we have true quantum computers (which is a whole other story), in about 30 years from now.  That doesn't mean we'll be able to do it then, but we will know if it can be done."

--ALSO OF INTEREST--

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/wwn/20030319/104808600007.html (http://tv.yahoo.com/news/wwn/20030319/104808600007.html)

[ August 31, 2003: Message edited by: Xenix God ]

Title: Time Travel
Post by: Pissed_Macman on 31 August 2003, 14:49

The only way I think it will be possible is via wormholes.

Title: Time Travel
Post by: Baikonur on 31 August 2003, 14:55

Wormholes, nice move.  Apparently the Great Minds of the 20th Century (And Beyond) agree with you . . .

"At that time wormholes were not something that were part of science fiction.  They became part of science fiction as a result of this interaction between Carl [Sagan] and me [Kip Thorne].  . . .

(Narrator) With wormholes on center stage, Thorne soon found they had other mysterious properties.  They could be used for more than traveling great distances in space; they might also be used for time travel.  

(Kip Thorne)  If you have a wormhole, then you can turn them into time machines for going backward in time.  We thought, how could we have been so stupid?  We should have realized that.  It's obvious.  . . .

. . .

There are several different ways to turn a wormhole into a time machine if you are a clever and infinitely advanced civilization.  By an infinitely advanced civilization I mean, somebody who can do anything their heart desires except they can't violate the fundamental laws."

--excerpt from an amazing PBS documentary circa 1999, wherein a "discussion" is had between the likes of Kip Thorne, Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, John Wheeler, Igor Novikov, and David Deutsch -- all geniuses with their own theories on the scope and possibilities of Time Travel.

Title: Time Travel
Post by: Pissed_Macman on 31 August 2003, 14:58

But what if a civilization not much more advanced than ours, or perhaps us in another 100 years, found a natural wormhole that already led a million years into the past or future?

Title: Time Travel
Post by: Baikonur on 31 August 2003, 15:31

A neat idea.

My recommendation to you, dear friend, is the reading of books by Stephen Baxter.

Specifically:

 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/1SLG4819DG4BC/qid=1062326544/sr=5-1/ref=sr_5_1/102-5532238-4422540 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/1SLG4819DG4BC/qid=1062326544/sr=5-1/ref=sr_5_1/102-5532238-4422540)

Title: Time Travel
Post by: Pissed_Macman on 31 August 2003, 16:15

Thanks, I think I'll do that. I've written a bit of sci-fi in the past but I don't have the attention span to finish anything.

Title: Time Travel
Post by: Baikonur on 31 August 2003, 16:19

Have you?  That's commendable.

I suppose I've authored my share of edible science fiction as well.  The inspiring pages of Henlein, Clarke, Asimov . . .  and their cyber-contemporaries: Gibson, Sterling, Stephenson . . .

 (http://smile.gif)

I should like to read some of your fiction, if it is available -- even incomplete as it is.  If you'd like, I can privately link you to some of my own.

Title: Time Travel
Post by: Pissed_Macman on 1 September 2003, 04:32

Ah, cool. As soon as I find mine I'll link it to you (It's spread out over three very crowded computers). Sure, go ahead and link me yours.