They manage to send information through a wormhole: we are closer to science fiction

A group of scientists from several research centers in the United States made headlines around the world because they managed to send a message through worm-hole. Well, an artificial wormhole, but you have to start somewhere.

What they have done inevitably leads us to think about cinema. And the fact is that this structure, the existence of which in the universe was described, but it was not possible to demonstrate, is the protagonist of many fictional names, from interstellar before the saga of Thorwatching detective films like dejavor.

Moreover, thanks to what these scientists have done, it has become possible to demonstrate once again that although they always seem to contradict each other, the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics can indeed have some points of contact. Therefore, although this is only the beginning or, as its authors have described, baby wormholetheir research can still shed light on great discoveries.

What is a wormhole?

Wormholes were first described by physicists Albert Einstein and Nathan RosenHence, they were originally called Einstein-Rosen bridges.

According to them, it will bridges in space-timeor, which would make it possible to establish a short path between two points distant from the universe. If we imagine space-time as a sheet of paper with several folds, then these bridges will represent a hole passing through the sheet from top to bottom. Thus, in order to move, we would not need to go through all its folds.

Since the wormhole was first described, it was postulated that the most likely way for a wormhole to occur in the universe would be union of two black holes. Nothing can escape from a black hole, not even light. However, if the two are connected, as if they were two funnels connected at their narrowest points to give rise to a kind of diabolo, the situation would be different. In this case, perhaps a message can be sent from one end to the other.

first attempts

Since this cannot be done directly in the universe, this has been attempted. simulate wormholes with computers. In fact, in 2019, a study was carried out, during which for the first time it was possible to convey a message through a simulation worm-hole.

It turned out that there were two problems. On the one hand so they can only pass a little information. On the other hand, the transmission of the message will change the black holes that form the bridge. Thus, one will increase its mass, and the other will decrease it. However, it was a good start that went further this time.

The authors of the work that has just been published in Nature conducted quantum simulations using a processor google sycamore. This processor is so efficient that, according to Google, it can complete a task in 200 seconds that a next-generation supercomputer would take 10,000 years to complete. Therefore, there is no doubt that it was an important instrument.

With his help, they were able to holographic equivalent the union of two black holes, as if it were quantum entanglement. This is one of the main mechanisms of quantum mechanics, according to which a set of entangled particles cannot be defined as individual particles with certain states, but rather as a system with a single wave function.

So they used quantum mechanics describe a phenomenon based on general theory of relativity. Big described by small: one of the great dilemmas of physics.

This alone is already a big milestone. More important, however, is the fact that they were able to send a message of just a few bits through the generated black hole. And it is not necessary break space-time or change the black holes that form it. It’s been a very small step for now, we can’t think of time travel or excursions to other worlds. While this is a good start, we still leave it up to you. Science fiction.

Marvel Studios

Wormholes in the movies

Although they are not necessarily described as wormholes, cinema has been using them for years to travel through time or to other worlds. One of the most famous cases is the case interstellar. To direct this film, Christopher Nolan consulted the Nobel Prize. Kip Thornewho used the wormhole as to help so that the protagonist can send a message at a certain point in his little daughter’s past.

But there are other examples as well. For example, in the saga of Thor, Earth meets Asgard through a rainbowas described in Scandinavian legends. However, scientist Jane Foster goes so far as to describe it as an Einstein-Rosen bridge. Basically a wormhole.

And in the movies there are artificial wormholes. Although recreated with much more fiction than in real life. For example, in deja vuTony Scott, building bridge across spacetime leave four days before and keep under control the person responsible for the attack. In their case, they send much more than a few beats, but that’s what movie magic is for.

What has been achieved now may soon seem less exciting on a boat, but it is actually much more. Mainly because it’s true.