Time travel not possilbe anymore?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of time travel, particularly the possibility of traveling into the future versus traveling back in time. Participants explore theoretical implications, interpretations of an article, and the effects of relativistic speeds on time perception.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants interpret an article as stating that time travel is impossible, while others argue that it does not provide new insights and merely reiterates existing understanding.
  • One participant suggests that traveling into the future is possible by approaching the speed of light, as described by the theory of relativity, which causes time dilation.
  • Another participant emphasizes that while one can travel into the future, this process is irreversible, and one cannot return to the past.
  • There is a discussion about the definition of time travel, with some participants noting that everyone is technically a time traveler as they move forward in time.
  • A participant raises a question about the potential effects of the inflationary Higgs mechanism on time travel, but another counters that the expansion of the universe does not have local effects.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of time travel, particularly regarding the feasibility of traveling into the future versus traveling back in time. There is no consensus on the interpretation of the article or the broader implications of time travel theories.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the definitions of time travel and the implications of relativistic physics are not fully explored, and the discussion does not resolve the complexities surrounding these concepts.

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Why do you think that article implies that travel to 'the future' is impossible?
 
because it says
article said:
time travel is impossible.
at the top
 
flyingpig said:
because it says at the top
OK. :smile: But I don't see anything within the article relevant to that statement. Time travel is just as impossible as it's always been--nothing new has been revealed. It's just confirming what we've understood all along.
 
So it isn't possible to travel into the future? Or "moving faster" than eveyrone else is now?
 
Well, technically, by the definition of the phrase, we are all "time travellers".

However, it is possible to travel into the future. If you speed up so that you approach the speed of light, the theory of relativity states that your time slows down relative to people on Earth. That means that, when you return to Earth, you will be in the "future".

However, this is irreversable. Once you have traveled to the future, you cannot travel back, as this article concludes.

If you read a little bit further into the article, you may have realized that it was referring to traveling back to time, so the statement "time travel is impossible" is a bit misleading.
 
hubewa said:
Well, technically, by the definition of the phrase, we are all "time travellers".

However, it is possible to travel into the future. If you speed up so that you approach the speed of light, the theory of relativity states that your time slows down relative to people on Earth. That means that, when you return to Earth, you will be in the "future".

However, this is irreversable. Once you have traveled to the future, you cannot travel back, as this article concludes.

If you read a little bit further into the article, you may have realized that it was referring to traveling back to time, so the statement "time travel is impossible" is a bit misleading.

Aha!
 
Yes, we are all traveling into the future at the same fate (more or less) here on Earth! Heading away at a very high velocity relative to the Earth, say 99% c, would slow your time down in relation to Earth so when you returned you would be ahead in time for us. But for you, you would never notice your own time ever being anything but normal.
 
Loren Booda said:
The universe beyond our event horizon moves general relativistically (by "inflation") faster than the speed of light. Could there be related, local effects (like the potential for time travel) of the inflationary Higgs mechanism?

No, the effect of the expansion of the universe has no effect locally, as the rate of expansion is extremely small.
 

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