Dark Matter & Space-Time Tunnels: Is Grammar OK?

In summary, the conversation discusses a sentence from a science fiction novel that mentions space-time tunnels and their use of dark matter. While the sentence is grammatically correct, it is scientifically questionable due to the concept of obtaining large amounts of dark matter in one place. The participants also touch on the idea of scientific accuracy in fiction.
  • #1
Master Wayne
26
3
Hey, guys. I'm writing a science fiction novel and would like to know if you guys think there's anything wrong with the grammar in this sentence:

"Space-time tunnels required large amounts of dark matter to stay open, and they could not be closed during the course of the mission, for it took even more of the precious material to create them from scratch."

Sounds okay to me. But is it?

Thanks in advance!
 
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  • #2
Grammatically, it's a completely correct structure, but the "for" makes it sound pretentious and of course scientifically it sounds ridiculous since dark matter doesn't interact with anything so getting large amounts of it in one place would be impossible as far as we currently know.
 
  • #3
phinds said:
Grammatically, it's a completely correct structure, but the "for" makes it sound pretentious and of course scientifically it sounds ridiculous since dark matter doesn't interact with anything so getting large amounts of it in one place would be impossible as far as we currently know.


Thanks a lot for the feedback, phinds!

I'll just ascribe that idea to the "fiction" part of "science fiction". After all, scientific knowledge is always "as far as we know". :)
 
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  • #4
What Phinds is saying is *NO*, it's not right.
 
  • #5
Evo said:
What Phinds is saying is *NO*, it's not right.

No, Evo, he said it's grammatically correct. Scientifically sketchy.
 
  • #6
Master Wayne said:
No, Evo, he said it's grammatically correct. Scientifically sketchy.

Grammatically, yes. "Sketchy" no. "Ridiculous" does not equal "sketchy"
 
  • #7
This thread is done.
 

1. What is dark matter?

Dark matter is a type of matter that makes up about 85% of the total matter in the universe. It does not emit or absorb light, making it invisible to traditional telescopes. Its existence is inferred through its gravitational effects on visible matter.

2. How does dark matter affect space-time?

Dark matter has a significant impact on the structure and evolution of the universe. Its gravitational pull helps to hold galaxies together, and its distribution affects the expansion rate of the universe. It also plays a role in the formation of large-scale structures such as galaxy clusters.

3. What is a space-time tunnel?

A space-time tunnel, also known as a wormhole, is a hypothetical passage through space-time that connects two distant points. It is theorized that these tunnels could allow for faster-than-light travel and may be created by the extreme warping of space-time by massive objects such as black holes.

4. Are space-time tunnels real?

While space-time tunnels are a popular concept in science fiction, there is currently no evidence to support their existence. They are still a theoretical concept and have not been observed or proven to exist in our universe.

5. How does grammar relate to dark matter and space-time tunnels?

Grammar does not directly relate to dark matter or space-time tunnels. It is simply a set of rules and principles that govern the structure and meaning of language. However, proper grammar is important in scientific communication to ensure clear and accurate understanding of complex concepts such as dark matter and space-time tunnels.

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