1A Scientific Method: The Science And Stories Of Time Travel
Nov 27, 2025
Jana Levin, an astronomy and physics professor, shares her expertise on time travel and relativity. Regina Barber, a science journalist, discusses the impact of time travel narratives on culture. Literary critic Jonathan Russell-Clark explores storytelling and cinematic examples of time travel. They delve into why these stories captivate us, the scientific inaccuracies often present, and critique iconic films like Back to the Future and Interstellar. The conversation also touches on the hypothetical future of time travel and its philosophical implications.
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Time Travel Explores Regret And Choice
- Time travel stories let us explore basic human longings like regret and alternate choices.
- Jonathan Russell-Clark says they answer "what if I had made a different choice?"
Free Will Versus Physical Consistency
- Time travel fiction often treats free will as separate from physics, which is misleading.
- Janna Levin argues characters shouldn't be allowed to break physical consistency just by willing it.
Why Back To The Future III Stands Out
- Regina Barber says Back to the Future Part III is her favorite because it leans into Western tropes and gives Doc Brown emotional depth.
- She highlights small realistic details like unfiltered water and Doc's love interest.
