Time travel is Finally Possible by solving Grandfather Paradox?
Time travel has always been a favourite topic for dreamers, scientists, and anyone who’s ever wanted to undo an awkward moment. Now, recent scientific discoveries are making the concept seem less like science fiction and more like a distant, but possible, reality.
By combining general relativity, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics, the study demonstrates that time travel might be feasible without leading to these logical contradictions.
Physics of Time Travel
The traditional understanding of time, rooted in Newtonian physics, views events as unfolding in a straightforward, linear manner. However, Einstein’s general theory of relativity, formulated in 1915, revealed that space-time can take on forms that challenge common sense, such as black holes. Among its most fascinating predictions are closed time curve loops in space-time that could theoretically allow someone to travel back in time.
Lorenzo explains that gravity is influenced by all forms of energy and momentum. For instance, if matter rotates, it can “drag” space-time along with it. While this effect is negligible on planets and stars, if the entire universe were in rotation, the resulting warping of space-time could be so extreme that time itself might loop. In such a scenario, a spacecraft could return to its original point not just in space, but also in time.
Paradox of Time Travel
Remember the “grandfather paradox”? what happens if you travel back in time and prevent your grandfather from having children, thus erasing your existence? According to this new research, timelines could somehow self-correct almost like the universe saying, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” The paradox seemed insurmountable until now. However, a new study combining general relativity, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics suggests time travel might sidestep such contradictions. At the heart of this theory is Einstein’s general relativity, which reshaped our understanding of space and time.
Solution of Paradox
Gavassino’s research, published in Classical and Quantum Gravity (December 2024), offers a solution to the grandfather paradox using physics. He showed that on a time loop (closed timelike curve), quantum fluctuations can reduce entropy(level of disorder), reversing processes like ageing and memory loss. This could make seemingly irreversible actions, like killing one’s grandfather, temporary, resolving the paradox.
Building on the “self-consistency principle,” Gavassino proved that the laws of quantum mechanics naturally ensure a logical, contradiction-free timeline, without needing new theories or assumptions. Essentially, physics itself prevents paradoxes in time travel.
“What I find interesting about this topic is the way it forces us to think about the role of entropy in generating our experience of the universe, which is probably my favourite topic in all of physics,” Gavassino said.
Even if time loops don’t exist, understanding and modelling them could provide insights into real phenomena.
