Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Wormhole

Reviewed by:
ffImage
hightlight icon
highlight icon
highlight icon
share icon
copy icon
SearchIcon

What is a Wormhole?

A wormhole is a unique solution formulated to describe the equations of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity that describes the connection of two distant points in time continuum or space by a tunnel. 


Ideally, a wormhole can be visualised as a tunnel consisting of two ends at separate points in spacetime, that is, they can either be in different locations or different points in time or even both.


As far as we can perceive, wormholes are considered a staple of science fiction and have gained much popular imagination. However, these theories are only hypothetical.


They are considered a legitimate solution to general relativity theory; however, researchers have never put forth a way to maintain a wormhole's stability in the real universe.


What is Wormhole Theory?

Wormhole theory is a hypothesis that advances the theoretical existence of a hypothetical passage. This exists through the space-time continuum that holds the possibility of creating shortcuts for long journeys across the universe. 


The Einstein field equations comprise a total of 10 equations as per his general theory of relativity. Albert’s theory describes the elementary interaction of gravitation as an outcome of spacetime being curved by mass and energy.


Wormholes are included as a particular solution to the Einstein Field Equations which cannot visualize four-dimensional space-time.


As per the general relativity theory, it's the mass or the energy that causes a curvature in the space-time continuum. According to theory, time gets slower as the space-time is curved but this occurs to those who are on the less curvature of the space-time continuum.


As a person moves through the wormhole, time goes slower and slower as opposed to those who are not present in the wormhole. When an individual comes out of this wormhole, the time has moved very slowly for you as opposed to those who are not present in the wormhole. 


Wormholes are consistent with Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity, but the actual existence of wormholes remains to be seen. Many researchers, scholars, and scientists suggest that wormholes are just projections of a fourth spatial dimension. This postulation remains analogous to how a two-dimensional being could experience only part of a three-dimensional object.


Through The Wormhole

Science fiction is a tale filled with travelling tales through wormholes; however, the reality of such wormhole travel time is more complicated than it seems.


The first notable problem exists in the size of the hole as microscopic primordial wormholes are predicted to exist. The size is said to be about 10-33 centimetres. However, as the universe expands, there stands a possibility that some may have been stretched to larger sizes.


Another problem that dismisses existence comes from stability. For example, Einstein-Rosen wormhole prediction is useless for travel because they tend to collapse quickly. 


Many current researchers have found that a wormhole possessing an exotic matter can remain open and unchanged for a more extended period.


Exotic matter is confused chiefly with dark matter or antimatter. Exotic matter is said to contain negative energy density and reach a significant negative pressure. Exotic matter is seen in the behaviour of certain vacuum states as part of quantum field theory.


What is an Interstellar Wormhole?

Interstellar travel states that there is a technical possibility of a movement between the solar systems and stars in the universe. But, as per Coop's notes, There is no planet in our solar system or the universe that can sustain life. The nearest star, as this theory states, is over a thousand years away.


As per the interstellar wormhole, to find a new home, humanity must find a new planet in the farthest corner of the universe. The only way to reach the farthest reach of the universe is through the wormhole. 


(image will be uploaded soon)


However, a wormhole appears near the planet Saturn, which holds the most significant gravitational anomaly that causes a disturbance of space-time, thus leading to a farther and distant galaxy.


The concept of wormholes was formulated from Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. This theory acts as a hypothetical bridge formed by space-time continuum stooping to bring two distant ends in the universe closer together. A wormhole is said to fold the paper and pass through the endpoints.


How Do Wormholes Form?

To date, researchers have found no known way to construct a wormhole as the theory of wormholes is purely hypothetical. However, although theorists say that exotic matter is unlikely to exist, there is a possibility to stabilise the wormholes through negative energy.


Quantum fields are said to be filled in the vacuum of the space-time continuum, which is the fundamental quantum building block that holds the possibility to bring about the particles and forces experienced. These quantum fields are said to possess an intrinsic amount of energy. 


This enormous amount of energy is said to construct scenarios where the quantum energy in a particular region remains beneath its surroundings. This scenario leads to the creation of negative energy at a local level. 


According to the California Riverside mathematician John Baez, the Casimir effect is a state where the negative energy exists in the real world, which states that negative quantum energies exist between two parallel metal plates that leads to attraction.


However, to date, no individual knows if the stabilisation of a wormhole through this negative quantum energy. Moreover, it may not even be possible to achieve the right kind of negative energy since it remains only as a negative relative to its surroundings, not in an absolute way.


There is a theory that wormholes might occur naturally at microscopic scales in the form of quantum foam. Likewise, the roiling nature of the space-time continuum may reach at the very tiniest of scales due to the same quantum energies.


In situations where this theory occurs, the chances of a wormhole existence might be popping in and out constantly. However, this cannot be supported and remains unclear on how to "scale up" those wormholes to sizes big and stable enough for an individual to walk through.


Wormholes and Time Travel

Theoretically, it can be said that a wormhole could act as a time machine. However, special relativity dictates that a moving clock can run slowly. For instance, a person racing at almost the speed of light holds a possibility to not advance into their future.

If theorists and researchers could construct a wormhole, the initial start containing the two ends would be synchronised in time. However, if one end of the wormhole were accelerated to almost the speed of light, then the other end would start to lag behind the other end. 


According to Physicist Andrew Friedman, the possibility of uniting the two ends of the wormhole could be brought together if only one of the entrances would be in the other's past.


To travel back in time via wormholes, you need to walk through one end. Once you exit the wormhole, the theory states that you would be in your past.


Are Wormholes Real?

A real wormhole is formulated per Einstein's general theory of relativity, but the existence of a practical, real-life wormhole remains to be seen. 


Many researchers postulate that the projections of a fourth spatial dimension in wormholes can remain analogous, leading to how a two-dimensional structure can experience a part of a three-dimensional object.


Theoretically, it has been put out that a wormhole might connect at extremely long distances, such as a billion light-years. However, this theory can even be applicable at short distances such as different points in time or a few meters or even in other universes.

FAQs on Wormhole

1. What is a wormhole in simple terms?

A wormhole is a theoretical passage through spacetime that could create shortcuts for long journeys across the universe. It is a hypothetical structure connecting two separate points in spacetime, potentially allowing for travel between them that is faster than travelling through normal space. Think of it like folding a piece of paper in half to bring two distant points together and punching a hole through them, creating a direct path.

2. What is the difference between a black hole and a wormhole?

While both are solutions to Einstein's equations and possess immense gravity, they are fundamentally different. The key difference lies in their function:

  • A black hole is considered a one-way destination due to its event horizon, a point of no return. Anything that crosses it cannot escape.
  • A wormhole is theoretically a two-way tunnel. It has an entrance and an exit, and in theory, something could pass through from one end to the other and potentially return.

3. Do wormholes actually exist in our universe?

As of now, wormholes are purely hypothetical. They are a valid mathematical solution to the equations of Einstein's theory of general relativity, but there is no observational evidence to prove they exist. Scientists have never detected a wormhole, and they remain a concept primarily explored in theoretical physics and science fiction.

4. How is the concept of a wormhole related to Einstein's theory of general relativity?

The idea of a wormhole comes directly from Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. This theory describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. A wormhole, also known as an Einstein-Rosen bridge, is a particular type of solution to the Einstein Field Equations, representing a 'tunnel' or 'bridge' connecting two different regions of this curved spacetime.

5. What would happen if a person travelled through a wormhole?

Theoretically, travelling through a wormhole would be extremely dangerous and likely impossible with our current understanding. A traveller would face several immense challenges:

  • Instability: Most theoretical models suggest wormholes would collapse instantly with incredible violence.
  • Extreme Gravity: The intense gravitational forces would stretch and squeeze any object, a process known as spaghettification.
  • Radiation: The throat of the wormhole could contain lethal levels of energy and radiation.

6. Why are wormholes considered theoretically unstable?

Wormholes are thought to be unstable because the immense gravitational pull of their own structure would cause them to collapse instantly. For a wormhole to remain open, it would require some form of matter or energy that exerts a negative pressure, essentially pushing the walls of the tunnel apart to counteract the gravitational collapse. This leads to the requirement of 'exotic matter'.

7. What is 'exotic matter' and why is it necessary to stabilize a wormhole?

Exotic matter is a hypothetical form of matter that violates known physical conditions, primarily because it possesses a negative energy density. In the context of wormholes, this property is crucial because it would generate an anti-gravitational effect. This outward pressure is theoretically needed to prop open the 'throat' of the wormhole, preventing it from collapsing and making it traversable.

8. How could a wormhole theoretically be used for time travel?

A wormhole could theoretically facilitate time travel due to the principles of relativity. If one end of a stable wormhole were accelerated to near the speed of light and then returned, time dilation would cause that end to have experienced less time than the stationary end. By entering the stationary end and exiting through the moving end, a person could emerge at a point in the past relative to their starting point.