Wormholes

Space time is a mathematical model that joins space and time, implying that the universe is 4-dimensional. Three dimensions are for space and the fourth is for time. The Space time continuum laid the foundation for Einstein’s theory of relativity. Space-time can be thought of as a trampoline. When a ball is placed on it, the trampoline curves. In a similar way, matter, such as a star or a planet curves spacetime. But how does it apply to wormholes?

First, we must know what wormholes are. A wormhole is a speculative structure, linking contrasting points in spacetime. In 1935, Einstein and physicist Nathan Rosen used the theory of general relativity, proposing the possible existence of "bridges" through space-time. These bridges connect two different points in space-time, theoretically creating a shortcut that could reduce travel time and distance. These shortcuts came to be called Einstein-Rosen bridges, or wormholes. A wormhole could connect 2 places billion lightyears away from each other, or just a few meters apart.

A wormhole can be imagined by taking a piece of paper and marking two points on it. Here, the paper resembles a plane of space-time and the two points are the starting point and destination. By folding the paper, one could connect the two points, greatly reducing the hypothetical distance to travel. Wormholes could also theoretically allow time travel. Simply opening a wormhole can fundamentally change the universe and create time travel paradoxes.

The reality of travelling through wormholes is very complicated, and humans have yet to find one. Wormholes have many problems, the first one being size. They are predicted to exist on microscopic levels, as low as 10-33 centimeters. Another problem is stability as they collapse due to gravity.

To prevent wormholes from collapsing, a particle with negative mass, or ‘Exotic matter’ would have to be used. Matter having positive mass like a planet, is attractive because of gravity, but negative mass is repulsive, leading scientists to believe that it can keep wormholes open.

While wormholes are very hypothetical at the moment, any further scientific advancements in the future that finds or enables us to create a wormhole, can make Earth a wormhole hub for an extensive interstellar human civilization spread over billions of light years, but only a wormhole away.