Wormholes in Interstellar: Are They Based on Real Science?

The fictional Interstellar movie has sparked curiosity about the existence of wormholes and their potential for space travel between Earth and Mars. However, the reality is much more simplistic, based on theoretical physics rather than any tested or observed phenomena. Let's explore this concept in detail.

Wormholes: A Theoretical Concept

Wormholes, as depicted in Interstellar, are often portrayed as shortcuts through space and time. In reality, wormholes remain a purely mathematical concept. While top theoretical physicists have contributed to the theory, no wormholes have been observed or tested in the real world. The idea of a wormhole is based on the theory of general relativity, where an exotic form of matter or energy could potentially create a shortcut through space and time. However, such exotic matter has not been discovered, and therefore, the assumption of a wormhole's existence is not supported by current scientific knowledge.

Even if wormholes were theoretically possible, they would likely be microscopic and short-lived. Achieving a stable, large-scale wormhole is considered highly improbable with current technology. The prospect of creating a stable wormhole that could be used for intergalactic travel is thus remote. Additionally, passing through such a wormhole is not guaranteed to be survivable, and determining the destination would be akin to taking a leap of faith without any empirical evidence.

Alternative Solutions: Nuclear Rockets and Fusion Rockets

Travel between Earth and Mars does not necessarily require a wormhole. Traditional spacecraft using nuclear rockets could significantly reduce travel time. A nuclear rocket would shorten the journey from seven months to about six weeks. While current nuclear rockets use fission, which poses safety risks, future advancements may lead to the development of fusion rockets, which would be much safer and more efficient.

The closest proximity to real scientific understanding of wormholes comes from the concept of faster-than-light (FTL) travel. Some scientists theorize that spacecraft could travel at a speed up to 25 to 30 times the speed of light, which would make a journey between Earth and Mars a mere 35 to 50 minutes. This speed, however, is limited to the solar system. To travel to distant exoplanets or other star systems, faster-than-light travel is still necessary.

Challenges and Theoretical Advancements

The main challenges to faster-than-light travel revolve around mass, acceleration, and gravitational resistance. Just as there is air resistance that limits airplane speeds, similar gravitational effects become noticeable during space travel. As a spacecraft accelerates, it encounters increasing gravitational resistance, which can increase the gravitational fields around the vessel. Overcoming these challenges requires innovative solutions that can travel without the hindrance of gravitational fields.

Wormholes, on the other hand, could potentially provide instantaneous travel through the solar system and to some planets beyond. Theory suggests that wormholes might enable faster-than-light travel due to the quantum nature of space. However, for such travel to be safe and effective, both the departure and arrival points would need to have intentional wormhole travel established. Beyond this, any object or spacecraft traversing a wormhole would face inevitable disintegration due to the quantum forces at play.

While the concept of wormholes is intriguing, the current state of science and technology provides more plausible avenues for space exploration. The development of fusion rockets and the exploration of theoretical faster-than-light travel offer more realistic prospects for interplanetary and interstellar travel in the future.