Difference between revisions of "Wormhole"
(It has not generated much popular appeal, perhaps due to its relatively unattractive name.) |
Johntalbot (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | A '''wormhole''', in [[science fiction]], is a passage from one location in three-dimensional space to another. It is based on the concept that space has more than three dimensions, and that 3D space can be "folded" within 4D space much as a 2D piece of cloth can be folded within 3D space. The [[General Theory of Relativity]] says that wormholes may exist. | + | A '''wormhole''', in [[science fiction]], is a speculative passage from one location in three-dimensional space to another. It is based on the concept that space has more than three dimensions, and that 3D space can be "folded" within 4D space much as a 2D piece of cloth can be folded within 3D space. The [[General Theory of Relativity]] says that wormholes may exist. This has not been proven so far. |
The significance of a wormhole is that it would allow a trip through it to take much less time than a journey between the same two points in conventional space. The mouths of a wormhole may be at any two points in [[spacetime]], including at different times; this would allow time travel by going through the wormhole.<ref>[http://www.npl.washington.edu/AV/altvw33.html "Wormholes and Time Machines"], John G. Cramer</ref> | The significance of a wormhole is that it would allow a trip through it to take much less time than a journey between the same two points in conventional space. The mouths of a wormhole may be at any two points in [[spacetime]], including at different times; this would allow time travel by going through the wormhole.<ref>[http://www.npl.washington.edu/AV/altvw33.html "Wormholes and Time Machines"], John G. Cramer</ref> | ||
Revision as of 19:46, May 23, 2010
A wormhole, in science fiction, is a speculative passage from one location in three-dimensional space to another. It is based on the concept that space has more than three dimensions, and that 3D space can be "folded" within 4D space much as a 2D piece of cloth can be folded within 3D space. The General Theory of Relativity says that wormholes may exist. This has not been proven so far.
The significance of a wormhole is that it would allow a trip through it to take much less time than a journey between the same two points in conventional space. The mouths of a wormhole may be at any two points in spacetime, including at different times; this would allow time travel by going through the wormhole.[1]
Some scientists speculate that black holes might be entrance portals to wormholes, leading to hypothetical white holes.
The first prediction of a wormhole was made by physicist Hermann Weyl in 1921, and physicist John Wheeler coined the term “wormhole” in 1957.[2] It has not generated much popular appeal, perhaps due to its relatively unattractive name.