Two scientists achieved 'time travel' 53 years ago using Einstein's theory
Two scientists apparently already achieved ‘time travel’ 53 years ago using Albert Einstein’s theory.
It’s something that has captured the imagination of many sci-fi films and pop culture moments.
But the idea of time travel has always seemed like something completely fictional.
Advert
However, that could all have changed after scientists revealed that they believe it might be theoretically possible after all.
That being said, it might be best to hold off on packing your bags just yet - as it’s not quite as exciting as the likes of Back to the Future and Interstellar.
In reality, it’s much less adventure and much more theoretical physics.
According to NASA, everyone on Earth is currently traveling ‘in time’, which is at a rate of one second per second.
Therefore, if someone was able to travel faster than that speed of time, they’d technically be a time traveler.
And this theory is dated all the way back to Einstein’s formulation of special relativity in 1905.
An extremely simplified (and we really do mean extremely simplified) version of Einstein’s argument states the speed in which time passes depends on both your surroundings and the speed you're travelling at, with the faster you travel, the slower you experience time.
This theory would later be tested by scientists Joseph Hafele and Richard Keating, who looked for a way to prove that time dilation - a difference in elapsed time on two different clocks - in 1971.
In order to conduct the experiment, the pair loaded four ultra-precise atomic clocks onto two different aeroplanes flying in different directions.
The clocks were then compared to another one on the ground, with those onboard the flight going against the Earth's rotation losing about 59 nanoseconds of time compared to the clocks on Earth.
Meanwhile, the clocks onboard the flight travelling with the Earth’s rotation were moving quicker than both, gaining around 273 nanoseconds, meaning they essentially experienced time travel.
This theory can also be applied to astronauts who spend extended periods of time onboard the International Space Station, with US astronaut Scott Kelly returning to Earth slightly younger than his twin Mark due to the speed at which he was moving in orbit.
It’s not quite a DeLorean reaching 88mph and blasting off to a different time but look, we did warn you that real life time travel wouldn't be as exciting as it films in film and TV.