Imagine traveling through a wormhole to a galaxy far, far away. Although it may sound like science fiction, wormholes are hypothetical portals where space-time funnels into a narrow passage and opens up elsewhere, potentially even in another universe. The idea of wormholes, similar to black holes, involves highly warped space-time. Researchers study wormholes to explore the physical possibilities of space-time and consider the potential for this concept to become an actual technology in the distant future.
Contrary to their mythic reputation, wormholes are grounded in Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. According to this theory, mass can create gravity by warping the fabric of the universe. Just as general relativity allows for an expanding universe, the big bang, and black holes, it also suggests that wormholes are within the realm of possibility. Einstein himself provided a mathematical description of wormholes back in the 1930s.
One of the key considerations in studying wormholes is finding a way to keep them stable without immediate collapse. It requires identifying a type of matter that can support the structure of a wormhole. Researchers, like Juan Maldacena at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), have been exploring the use of exotic matter to achieve this stability.
Exotic matter refers to theoretical forms of matter that possess unusual properties. It’s distinct from ordinary matter and can exhibit negative energy or violate energy conditions commonly found in the known universe. The idea behind using exotic matter to stabilize a wormhole is to counterbalance the gravitational forces that would otherwise cause the wormhole to collapse. By manipulating the properties of exotic matter, scientists hope to develop the necessary conditions for a traversable and stable wormhole.
However, the concept of exotic matter remains purely theoretical, and its existence has not been confirmed. Scientists continue to investigate and explore the possibilities while keeping in mind the fundamental laws of physics.
Studying wormholes not only allows for intriguing scientific exploration but also expands our understanding of the potential boundaries of space and time. While the practical realization of traversable wormholes may still be far-off, the ongoing research contributes to our progress in unlocking the secrets of the universe.
Sources:
Toby Wiseman, Imperial College London
Juan Maldacena, Institute for Advanced Study (IAS)
Science Photo Library/Alamy
