Your thoughts are interesting. I've been a big fan of Time Travel stories since I was a kid. The possibilities are endless (as many scifi stories show).
I recently read an interesting artical last year in Scientific American. Some quantum physicists are postulating the parallel world theories. When you travel back in time (assuming you can), you can't have a paradox. The universe won't let you. So, when you go back, you don't go back to your own 'World Line' but,
to one close to you. There fore, you don't mess with your own past but, another you. So, no paradox. The old 'Grandfather Paradox' can't happen.
I've looked into Reincarnation in my linear time travels (43 years) and its interesting when they can back up their past lives with hard data not available to them at the time of the regression. Some theories say time is happening simutaniously, its our preception thats linear. Who knows.
One thing you didn't mention, time is a physical property. You said we are aware of it but, its been proven that the faster you go, the slower time goes for you. (Syncronized atomic clocks, one on the earth, the other in space have shown definate slowing down of the space clock - very minor at those 'slow' speeds
but, a difference). Time is also affected by gravity according to calculations around large enough gravitational fields (ie, a black hole).
I recently read a scifi story last year (can't remember the name, sorry)where the theme said that, on a quantum and cellular level, there is cross talk between parallel counter parts. The sudden inspiration you have may have come from another you nearby. They said that evolution could not have happened so
fast but, with crosstalk across the 'worlds', many combinations are tired and the best (or close to) models are 'chosen'. If you have several hundred (or thousands) of the same creature that has a mutation that works well in various combinations, then, the majority rules. Cutting down on the 'random' trial and
error process. An interesting theory.
The 'Time War' series by Simon Hawke uses the time stream theory. Changes, providing they are not too drastic, can occur but the 'time stream' will smooth them out. Major changes will create a split.
Its definately an interesting subject. One that I continue to enjoy in scifi.
Please excuse any misspellings and such, its 3am now (and I'm not the best speller any way when I get typing).
Great page, too.
Jeff Walker
You have touched on a few different theories, in your response, most of which gravitate around, or at least touch on the "many worlds" theory. Funny, I was considering to write an additional essay in the near future on that more specific subject.
The theororists that you refer to who speculate timetravel to the past as crossovers to parallel realities not your own, sounds as "scary", if not more so, as PARADOX. To think your reality could be affected by another version of yourself is kinda like your brother wrecking your new car! Of course, you wouldn't be aware of the change, but what if life was so much better just a second ago?
The effects of gravity on time is interesting. I once read an article which allowed the reader to experience a human's perception of time looking out at the universe, while being pulled into a blackhole, from just inside the event horizon. Present day to "Big Crunch" in a few seconds! Whew! Of course, from a distance outside the event horizon, the human would simply appear to be "frozen" in place forever.
The theory you mentioned about all time occurring simultaneously is the most interesting to me. It makes sense. It's just that it's something a human linear mind can't handle! Thanks for the visit!
(Oh, BTW- if you remember the name or publication of the article concerning crosstalking, let me know-I'd be interested to read that myself)
Chuck
I have thought this for many years, even as a child. I never told a soul.. I have even had dreams of alternate realities, always brushed them off as just dreams. Is there any formal thinking on this similar to your thoughts?
Well, you certainly aren't alone, even though you may have thought you were. I think I spend as much "time" in VERY FAMILIAR surroundings, during my dreams, as I do in this reality. I also think most people do, but that it is either suppressed or just not identified as such.
If you define formal thinking as the thoughts of an "expert", then the answer is YES. You can find an entire chapter on the subject in a book written by John Gribbin, called "TIME WARPS". It was written in 1979, so I don't know if it's still in print. The chapter I refer to is called "Parallel Worlds-sideways in time". It leads into "dream realities". It may be difficult to find the book, but any reputable used bookstore should be able to find a copy for you. Happy hunting! Let me know how it goes.
Chuck
(name)Richard Shea
(emailaddy)rick_shea@hotmail.com
I am currently working on a novel with time travel as a central theme. It is a driving vehicle of the story where a group of scientists dissapear. The boat that carries them is found adrift ten years later with no one aboard. I pose the question: if there was partial information that time travel did occur, would it be believed? If so, would it be exploited. Any information on this subject or any comments you might have would be of the greatest help. As for my own beliefs, I feel that man's limits in the scientific field is only limited by our
doubt in our abilities.
respectfully yours,
richard
Would it be believed? Like anything else, probably by some. Others, would of course, be skeptical. Would it be exploited? Well, if there was any evidence to suggest the possibility of timetravel, then rest assured, there would be a scramble for control of information, more than likely, covert government types versus scientists. In the real world, the scientists would probably have the choice of losing out or becoming the puppets of the government(s).
Yes, I agree. Doubts are the only limits of our abilities. If you believe you can do something or you believe you can't- you're right (either way)!
Good Luck!
Chuck
(name)Luxan
(emailaddy)luxan@shasta.com
(location)Whitmore, CA
GREET'GS CHUCK, KAREN & ALL,
I BUILT MY 1ST TIME MACHINE (ACTUALLY, AN 'INTER-DIMENSIONAL
MACHINE ABOUT 17 YRS AGO.
@ THE TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THE 'AUTOMATIC' TYPE - IT
IMMEDIATELY 'SENDS U' SOMEWHERE/SOMETIME.
2 SAY THE LEAST, IT WAS A MAJOR SHOCKER 4 ME 2 B IN THE MIDST OF
ETS, OF A 'PARALLEL/PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE'? TIMELINE/UNIVERSE.
AS I WAS 'SPENDING THE NIGHT' IN MY 'CRYSTAL TIME TRAVEL MODULE',
I WAS 'THERE' 4 ABOUT 7-8 HRS. IT TOOK ME YEARS 2 RECOVER FROM
TRAUMA OF THAT NIGHT. LUCKILY - T BEINGS THERE WERE BENEVOLENT-
OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. I DISCOVERED THAT 2 'TRAVEL' 2
OTHER SPACE-TIME COORDINATES - EITHER ON THIS TIMELINE - OR OTHER
TIMELINES/UNIVERSES/DIMENSIONS - IT TAKES SOME SERIOUS SPIRITUAL-
MENTAL-EMOTIONAL-PHYSICAL PREPARATION.
SO - I'M NOW DEVELOP'G A 3-MONTH PROGRAM 4 'LEARN'G HOW 2 TRAVEL
THRU TIME/DIMENSIONS/UNIVERSES.
I'VE JUST COMPLETED & TESTED MY 3RD GENERATION 'CRYSTAL TELEPORT/
TIME TRAVEL MODULE' - & IT WORKS VERY WELL.
IT'S NOT THE 'AUTOMATIC' TYPE - IT'S 'BIOTRONIC'- U HAVE 2 'FOCUS
UR MIND' IN THE MODULE - & THE MODULE 'AMPLIFIES' UR THOT/S &'SENDS' U THERE.
MY 1ST 'TEST' OF THE NEW MACHINE WAS PROFOUND.
I WENT 2 3 DIFFERENT 'DIMENSIONAL GATEWAYS' &, ONLY 'PASSED THRU'
1 - I DIDN'T FEEL READY 2 ENTER THE OTHER 2.
ANY WAY - IF ANY1 IS INTERESTED - LET ME KNOW. luxan@shasta.com
B 1 W/T LITE. luxan
I also believe in the possibility of backward time travel.
I like to think of time as flowing like a stream, any choice you make, is compared to a rock in the stream, changing the flow of the stream, and also your timeline.
If you haven't read a book called "The Man Who Folded Himself"-by David Gerrold, you should. The premise is a bit hard to accept, but the theory and the deep dive into the consequences is (as it boasts) THE LAST WORD in Timetravel Fiction. Quite excellent! I don't think anyone has ever thought it out so thoroughly.
Chuck
Hello Mr.Chuck
I just read your page and your viewa on Time Travel.
It was nice.
I am a very recent debutant into the world of people who belive and Pray for Time Travel.
I am not able to get any good sites on the net or anywhere in the School LIbrary some very good scientif facts about "Time Travel" I will be very much thankfull to U if You could mail me a list of some very nice sites on the Internet which will provide me a rich scientific source about Time Travel
Well, unfortunately, as you are discovering, when it come to FACTS on timetravel, good WWW sites are as scarce as good books. One book I would recommend to you is the same one I mentioned to Jeni above. Please check out my link sites on the timetravel page as well. I did see a very interesting hour long episode on The Discovery Channel a couple of months back. It seems a physicist in Germany has managed to send music across a given space at 5 time the speed of light.
The ramifications of this are astounding.
GOOD LUCK! Keep in touch.
Chuck
(name)buckweet45
(location)earth 1998
If at all posible from what mr. buckley said time travel would take a lot of TIME to perfect it and would create a loop in time.
For instance you travel back to save your best friends life that died in a car accedent they would have to remeber to tell you at the right time that you had to invent time travel to save their life. But what if your only modivation was to bring your
DEAD friend back to life then you would have to go back and ssave your friends life and the cycle reapeates.
I don't know about the "loop" part, but your theory is sound and in line with what a lot of us have been speculating- specifically, do all times exit simultaneously? Or to approach it from a different perspective, as I think you have- do all moment in time always exist and carry out infinitely and forever?
I think it is true.
Chuck
(name)Alex Kreitner
(emailaddy)AKreit@usa.net
(location)Washinton State, USA
After thinking about it, for a little TOO small a time period, I came to a pseudo-conclusion on time travel and paradoxes....in short I agree with the scientists mentioned, a paradox CAN'T
happen.
The only thing I can think happen is it would tear a hole SOMEWHERE, something can't happen five different ways in the same time stream, too many variables, the alternate universe is the ONLY way, I'd actually be VERY careful changing anything, in case it would do damage.
Damage to something is the only thing a human brain could think about it. Its hard to believe that everything would change without anyone knowing, because everything would be erased from everyone's minds, so the person who changed it, wouldn't have a
REASON to change it.
It seems to me, that in some respects i'm just repeating whats already been said, but i'm hoping it comes out as more of a "wrap-up" to most of it!
Well, I'm stopping, i'm putting out this one conselation
for anyone who's reading this and is confused...its that I'M ALSO confused, but I guess a semi-coherant thought is the best
we can hope for as human beings considering timetravel, huh?
Yes, I think that is what we're narrowing it down to- the multiverse. No, PARADOX could not happen affecting the exact same timeline. What matters, that is to say, what reality is, is the perception of the viewer/experiencer, so, yes, s/he would remember any changes- no one else would. S/he, is the culmination of all decisions and changes. Essentially, a timetraveler would be creating his/her universe a s/he went along. Welcome back in, BTW. :)
Chuck
