He doesn't have the typical appearance of a mad scientist: no dirty lab coat, no electrified hair on his head. He is 77 years old and a fine physicist and university professor (at the University of Connecticut). Simply, he never lost hope of realizing his dream: that of creating a time machine.
Could I not follow him? The professor Ronald mallett He is a myth. Literally. Its first announcements, dated January 2020, inspired this post: since then there has been some innovation, and a timid attempt to move away from pure theory.
The time machine: between science and science fiction
The concept of a time machine has always fascinated the collective imagination, oscillating between the realm of science fiction and the boldest frontiers of theoretical physics. While Ron Mallett's efforts represent a scientific approach to time travel, many other scientists remain skeptical of its practical feasibility.
Some theorists argue that even if it were possible to create a time machine, “self-correcting” mechanisms of the universe could come into play to prevent temporal paradoxes. Still others speculate that time travel might only be possible to parallel universes, thus avoiding conflicts with our own timeline.
Despite enormous challenges, research in this field continues to push the boundaries of our understanding of space-time, often leading to unexpected discoveries in other fields of physics. The time machine remains a distant dream, but its search pushes us to explore the deepest mysteries of the universe.
Light and time
As far as we know, time travel is not possible, at least not in a way consistent with the principle of causality. Simply put: events cannot happen before their causes, and this is a fundamental principle of physics.
Yet, you know, some theories still leave this possibility open. The theory of general relativity itself, for example, or all the scientific literature on wormholes. All studies that at the moment, however, require conditions that we cannot achieve with our current technology.
Ron Mallett, however, is not persuaded. He says he has found a possible solution to the problem of creating time loops. As? By creating an artificial black hole.
How does Mallett's “time machine” work?
The general principle is simple to illustrate: a rotating laser ring bends time and allows travel into the past. And so to speak, only Delorean and the Libyans are missing.
In essence, however, this is precisely the starting point. The prototype created by Mallett and put into operation 4 years ago emits a ray of light in continuous rotation, generating a gravitational field which, says the physicist, could lead to time loops and potentially the ability to travel into the past.
“Light can create gravity,” Mallett says. “And if gravity can affect time, then light itself can too.”
Easy explained
Imagine having a cup of coffee in front of you. Take a teaspoon and start mixing it. Do you see the coffee moving in a circle? This is pretty much what happens in a spinning black hole!
According to Einstein's theory of relativity, space and time are closely related to each other: therefore, when a black hole rotates, it creates a twist in space-time that can affect the movement of surrounding matter.
Yes, but the time machine? What do they say in Hill Valley when you go to see?
I imagine this takes… time, in fact. “The Wright brothers didn't build a Boeing,” says the physicist. How can you blame him? And before that, they built a wind tunnel to study the phenomenon of lift.
Its prototype, in short, is "preparatory". And Mallett believes it will work eventually. When that happens, she says, it will be possible to go back in time only to the first time the machine was turned on.
Of course, it still wouldn't be bad: we could go and bring antivirals to a world that is about to suffer the impact of a catastrophic pandemic.
Ron, don't give up. I'm still rooting for you!
