Do wormholes really exist in spacetime?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Aftermarth
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Spacetime Wormholes
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the existence of wormholes in spacetime, exploring theoretical implications and the potential for practical applications in space travel. Participants examine concepts related to exotic matter, quantum foam, and the challenges of negative density in the context of wormhole stability.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that wormholes could allow for rapid travel across the galaxy, akin to science fiction depictions.
  • It is noted that a stable wormhole would require "exotic" matter, which is theorized to have negative density, but there is no consensus on its existence or the amount needed.
  • Hints from quantum theory suggest exotic matter might be possible, though opinions vary on its implications for wormhole stability.
  • One participant questions the concept of negative density, comparing it to negative mass and expressing skepticism about its validity.
  • Another participant acknowledges the challenges of negative density, suggesting it may only exist on small scales and must be balanced by positive energy density nearby.
  • A participant seeks clarification on how density relates to the discussion of wormholes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility of negative density and exotic matter, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives on the topic.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in understanding the requirements for stable wormholes, including the dependence on theoretical constructs like exotic matter and the unresolved nature of quantum foam concepts.

Aftermarth
Messages
74
Reaction score
0
Do wormholes really exist in spacetime?
I mean, as a race we need to colonize the rest of the galaxy before too long otherwise the sun will extinguish our aspirations to survive, and we really can't just travel in a spaceship so we need to look at other ideas.

could "star-trek" or whatever the show is be real and wormholes or rips in the fabric of space appear so that we could go through them and end up in another part of the galaxy in minutes rather than thousands and thousands of years?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Aftermarth said:
Do wormholes really exist in spacetime?
I mean, as a race we need to colonize the rest of the galaxy before too long otherwise the sun will extinguish our aspirations to survive, and we really can't just travel in a spaceship so we need to look at other ideas.

could "star-trek" or whatever the show is be real and wormholes or rips in the fabric of space appear so that we could go through them and end up in another part of the galaxy in minutes rather than thousands and thousands of years?

Unfortunately, there are no clear-cut answers (even in theory) upon which the whole physics community agrees.

A stable wormhole requires "exotic" matter to hold it open, and exotic matter is such that some observers measure its density to be negative.

There are some hints from quantum theory that exotic matter is theoretically possible, but not everyone agrees on how much is needed to hold a wormhole open, how much is possible, etc.

Your questions lie in an area of active research.
 
can u help me understand something i read involving "quantum foam"
it said that it was a miniscule substance which covered everything and was a foam-like thing that shifted and flowed around itself, occasionally opening up breaks in the "fabric of space"
 
Uh how can you have negative density? Isnt that just as rediculous as negative mass?
 
Uh how can you have negative density? Isnt that just as rediculous as negative mass?
It's quite the same, it's ridiculous and it obviously exists. But AFAIK it exists only on small scales and has to be countered by positive energy density in the vicinity. But as George Jones said, we don't know yet what restrictions might apply.
 
slow down guys... where did denisty come into this at all?
 

Similar threads

High School Can We Really Stop Gravity by Altering Spacetime?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Graduate Spacetime 'loaf' according to Fabric of the Cosmos
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Writing: Input Wanted "Spacetime Drive" idea for sci-fi series of shorts
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Graduate Newton, Einstein, multiply connected spacetime, Energy and so forth
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School Could Quantum Fluctuations exist W/out the presence of Spacetime?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
Graduate Spacetime Engineering by Superposition of GWs: Feasible in Theory?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Undergrad Can Hyperbolic Space be affecting our view of the universe?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
High School Question about the Entropy of a Black Hole Singularity
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
Undergrad Does Traveling Through a Wormhole Violate the Law of Conservation of Mass?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
High School Where is the slowest point in terms of time?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
4K