Part-Time Genius

How Close Are We to Teleporting?

Jan 20, 2026
Dive into the fascinating world of teleportation, where science fiction meets potential reality! Discover its historical roots, from a 19th-century hoax about a boy and a dog to its connections with ancient stage magic. Explore the complexities of quantum teleportation and the mind-bending concept of entanglement, illustrated by a quirky love song. Can wormholes offer a way forward? Tune in for captivating theories, real-world experiments, and the hurdles that still keep teleportation just beyond our grasp!
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ANECDOTE

Victorian Teleport Hoax

  • An 1878 Australian newspaper claimed scientists in India teleported a dog and a boy through a wire.
  • The story ended with their atoms allegedly mixing and producing grotesque hybrids, revealing it was likely a hoax.
ANECDOTE

The Teleporting Soldier Legend

  • The 16th-century tale of Gil Perez says he fell asleep in Manila and woke in Mexico City minutes later.
  • Perez was jailed until returning sailors confirmed his identity and the Manila governor's assassination.
INSIGHT

Two Very Different Teleportations

  • 'Original flavor' teleportation means moving matter instantly, which remains unachieved.
  • 'Quantum teleportation' moves information, not physical bodies, and is experimentally real.
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