Moving faster than the speed of light might be one way to traverse the universe within a single human lifespan, but we might be able to do it in a single second — traversing unfathomable distances at oncethrough a physical wormhole.
And, it turns out humans might actually survive the journey, according to severalrecent studies published in the journalPhysical Review Letters.
Changing the mass and charge of fermions might create a traversable wormhole
Most science-savvy people have a casual familiarity with wormholes thanks to science fiction — where wormholes connect distant corners of the galaxy through an interdimensional portal that bends the fabric of space-time. But, as you might guess, no one has actually seen one.
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Worse still — the hypothetical phenomena face theoretical issues in physics like gravitational collapse. Put simply, if wormholes existed, conventional matter would plug the bottle-neck hole in space — blocking all transit from one aperture to another. Although some theorists think exotic matter could be used to pry such cosmic gates open.
However, according to Jose Blázquez-Salcedo of the Complutense University of Madrid (and colleagues), we might be able to do it without exotic matter. The team of researchers conceive of matter as composed of fermions — the consensus on which holds them as a fundamental unit of matter.
If we can change the charge and mass of fermions, we might create a traversable wormhole, argued Blázquez-Salcedo in his study. But this could only work if the ratio of total charge to total mass inside the wormhole is larger than another (and perhaps more haunting) theoretical limit determined by black holes.
Humans could survive a trip through a wormhole, but there's a catch
There are drawbacks to this method — namely, such wormholes would be only microscopic, which means even the most hardcore exercise routine wouldn't make humans thin enough for the trip.
However, Juan Maldecena of the Institute for Advanced Study (in New Jersey) and Alexey Milekhin (of Princeton) might have a way to make it work — which they explained in the second paper — that could enable a human being to traverse the entire Milky Way in less than a second.
Most crucially, the maximum force of acceleration would not exceed 20g (or 20 times Earth's normal gravity at sea level). Incredibly, the wormhole traveler would only experience roughly a second from one side to the other. But, sadly, anyone not traveling with them would see thousands of years go by. And it's not like you can just push them in.
This is significant for several reasons, not least of which consists in the ever-expanding intersection of physical threats to human existence. If in late 2019 you knew what was coming in 2020, and had a functioning wormhole, would you really decide to stay through a year of calamity without knowing for certain whether 2021 would be better? What if instead you could jump through a wormhole and leave the planet — and everyone on it — thousands of years and countless light-years behind? It may sound bizarre, but someday in the distant future, it's not necessarily impossible that humans could use a wormhole to escape great hardship, or even preserve the species against extinction.
Correction: The text previously stated that the force experienced by a would-be wormhole traveler would be 20 grams. This has been updated to reflect the relevant equation from the study, which states that the hypothetical wormhole would create an acceleration of 20 times that of Earth's surface gravity. IE regrets this error.
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I'm an enthusiast deeply entrenched in the realms of theoretical physics and cutting-edge scientific research, particularly in the domain of space-time manipulation and traversable wormholes. My passion for this subject stems from a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between fundamental particles, black holes, and the theoretical constructs that could propel us beyond the limitations imposed by conventional space travel.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Traversable Wormholes:
- Wormholes are hypothetical tunnels in space-time that could create shortcuts for long journeys across the universe.
- In the article, the focus is on traversable wormholes, which could potentially allow rapid travel through vast cosmic distances.
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Wormhole Creation Without Exotic Matter:
- The conventional notion of wormholes involves exotic matter, but Jose Blázquez-Salcedo and his team propose an alternative approach.
- They suggest that by changing the mass and charge of fermions (fundamental particles), it might be possible to create a traversable wormhole.
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Fermions and Fundamental Units of Matter:
- Fermions are subatomic particles, such as quarks and leptons, and are considered the building blocks of matter.
- The researchers argue that manipulating the charge and mass of fermions could be key to forming a traversable wormhole.
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Theoretical Limit Determined by Black Holes:
- The feasibility of creating a traversable wormhole is constrained by a theoretical limit related to the ratio of total charge to total mass inside the wormhole.
- This limit is juxtaposed against constraints posed by black holes, adding a layer of complexity to the proposed concept.
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Drawbacks and Microscopic Wormholes:
- The method described in the study results in microscopic wormholes.
- Despite the potential for rapid travel, these wormholes would be too small for a human, even with an extreme exercise routine.
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Solution for Human Travel:
- Juan Maldecena and Alexey Milekhin propose a solution in a second paper, allowing a human to traverse the Milky Way in less than a second.
- They emphasize that the maximum force of acceleration would not exceed 20g, making the journey feasible for a human traveler.
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Time Dilation and Relativity:
- The concept of time dilation is central to the article, as the traveler experiences only a second, while observers outside the wormhole witness thousands of years passing.
- This phenomenon aligns with Einstein's theory of relativity.
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Potential Applications and Speculations:
- The article speculates on the potential applications of traversable wormholes, including escaping catastrophic events or preserving the human species against extinction.
- The narrative raises intriguing questions about the intersection of theoretical physics and the preservation of human existence.
In conclusion, the article explores the fascinating possibilities of traversable wormholes, backed by theoretical propositions involving fermions, black hole limits, and innovative solutions for human travel through these cosmic conduits.
