It’s astonishing the feats we’ve been able to accomplish with science. From discovering the combustion of oxygen and birthing fire to exploring space and landing on Mars, it’s almost every day; we learn something new, build, and invent.
This only makes you think, what is the limit of our conviction? Where will our curiosity take us?
We are able to look light-years away, but can we actually travel back in time? If so, what are the perils associated with this feat?
Let’s discuss.
Is It Possible?
We’ve seen the concept of time travel be the center of attention in many pieces of science fiction literature. But away from the realm of make-believe, how feasible is time travel? You’ll be surprised to know that if we do the mathematics, it actually checks out.
Theoretically, the general relativity of space-time geometries permits time travel.
Quantum mechanics suggest that particles can exist in multiple states. If we could manipulate these particles on a quantum level, we should be able to transfer information forward or backward into time!
A simpler school of thought is time dilation. The concept of relativity suggests that objects can pass at dynamic rates for different objects depending on their proximity or motion. For example, if we were to travel in a space shuttle at an insanely high speed, time would pass significantly slower for us than for human beings on Earth.
Fascinating, isn’t it? But tread with caution, for time travel can lead to some unwanted entanglements.
The Grandfather Paradox
All right, say you have somehow cracked the code and got yourself a time machine. What’s next? Of course, you would want to go back to a significant period that resonates with you. Perhaps you wish to visit the past and witness the moment your mother and father met. Or maybe, have a cup of coffee with your grandparents.
But what if, let’s say, an accident occurs, and your interference causes your grandfather never to meet your grandmother, thus triggering a chain reaction of events, a constructed timeline straying away from your birth?
This is where the paradox comes in. If you alter the past, it’s impossible for you to be born in the future and ultimately invent a time machine to return in time!
Dizzy? Take a breather before you proceed.
Butterfly Effect
You may have heard of the Butterfly Effect; YouTubers love discussing this phenomenon.
As the name suggests, the Butterfly Effect says that minor changes in the past, accidentally stepping on a butterfly, can cause a chain reaction of events that can unintentionally alter the course of history.
There is no certainty on the extent of the potential catastrophes that can occur with this phenomenon, which really encapsulates the dangers of time travel.
Altering Historical Events
Finally, if you manage to set off a Butterfly Effect, like falling dominos one after the other, you can change what the world looks like or how it operates. The stability of society we know will be at stake.
The significant developmental changes throughout history may never take place, to begin with. Wars may never have ended, and there is also a chance humans may cease to exist!
Needless to say, time travel is a fascinating yet perilous concept.
Author Stephen Jensen in his book, Avalon TimeFall, gives us a unique yet mind-bending perspective on time travel. Julie Buckingham, a woman revered as the modern-day Einstein, and her husband, Micheal Hall, embark on a journey through time where Micheal discovers his bloodline, being a descendant of King Arthur.
Delve into a book set to be one of the most thrilling science fiction reads of 2023!
Avalon TimeFall by Stephen Jensen is out now.
No comments yet