In Our Time

Wormholes

78 snips
Oct 24, 2024
Toby Wiseman, a Professor of Theoretical Physics, Katy Clough, a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, and Andrew Pontzen, a Professor of Cosmology, dive into the intriguing concept of wormholes as potential shortcuts in the universe. They discuss how these hypothetical structures challenge our understanding of space-time and the fundamental laws of physics. The trio explores the historical context from Einstein to modern theories, considers the exotic matter required for wormhole stability, and even links these ideas to time travel, all while keeping the conversation light and engaging.
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INSIGHT

Universe Size and Observation

  • The universe is vast, approximately 14 billion light-years across, based on its age and expansion.
  • Light from the furthest observable objects has travelled for billions of years to reach us.
INSIGHT

Newton's Gravity

  • Newton unified earthly gravity with planetary motion, a concept we still use.
  • However, his model doesn't fully align with later discoveries in electromagnetism.
INSIGHT

Einstein's General Relativity

  • Einstein's work aimed to reconcile large-scale and small-scale physics.
  • This led to general relativity, unifying space and time as spacetime, a dynamic entity that can be warped.
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