What's the exact point about time travel?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of time travel, specifically the theoretical underpinnings and practical challenges associated with creating a time machine. Participants explore various theories related to time travel, including those from Special and General Relativity, and the implications of these theories for actual time travel capabilities.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that a theory of time machines has been proven, questioning what prevents scientists from creating one in reality.
  • Others seek clarification on what specific "theory of time machine" is being referenced, indicating a lack of consensus on the terminology used.
  • One participant argues that there is no indication of the feasibility of traveling to the past or the future with realistic effort, noting that while relativistic spacecraft could allow for future travel in principle, it remains impractical.
  • Another participant discusses the lack of a definitive theory of time travel, mentioning that while Special and General Relativity provide some insights, particularly through the Twin Paradox, there is no concrete evidence for time travel to the past.
  • It is noted that for engineers to develop a working time machine, a definitive theory and experimental evidence would be necessary, paralleling the historical development of the laser.
  • Some participants highlight that for time travel based on Special Relativity, insufficient energy is a barrier, while for General Relativity, the absence of evidence for exotic matter is a significant obstacle.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the existence and implications of time travel theories, with no clear consensus on the feasibility of creating a time machine or the specific theories involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various theoretical frameworks and experimental results, but there are limitations in the assumptions made and the definitions used, which remain unresolved in the discussion.

Benjamin_harsh
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What's the exact point that stopping our scientists to create time machine in reality?
It shows theory of time machine proved, what's the exact point that stopping our scientists to create time machine in reality?
 
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Benjamin_harsh said:
It shows theory of time machine proved

What "theory of time machine" are you talking about?
 
PeterDonis said:
What "theory of time machine" are you talking about?
I mean theory part of time machine.
 
Benjamin_harsh said:
I mean theory part of time machine.

I have no idea what you are talking about. Please give a reference.
 
There is no indication that you could travel to the past.
There is no indication that you could travel to the future with realistic effort. Relativistic spacecraft make it possible in principle but not with any effort we can imagine.
 
Basically, we do not have a theory of time travel.

We have some notions of time travel into the future as described in the theory of Special and General Relativity as illustrated in the Twin Paradox. We have experimental results confirming the passage of time is different for different observers with GPS clocks and other tests.

We have even more vague notions of time travel to the past within the limits of closed time-like curves but nothing more.

For engineers to build a working time travel machine, they would need a definitive theory and a physical experiment that accomplished it. To say something is possible but with no means to show it then the engineers have nothing to work with.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_travel

As an example, consider the invention of the laser. It started with a paper describing the possibility of a coherent beam of light and then further papers about the excitation of atoms. The experimental scientists and engineers then discover what kinds of materials work best for lasing and finally, products are produced.

Without the theory and the physical experiments showing it's feasibility and a means to achieve it, real working products could not be produced.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser
 
Benjamin_harsh said:
Summary:: What's the exact point that stopping our scientists to create time machine in reality?

It shows theory of time machine proved, what's the exact point that stopping our scientists to create time machine in reality?
For SR-based time travel it is insufficient energy. For GR-based time travel it is the complete lack of any evidence that exotic matter actually exists.
 
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