Wormholes

In this episode of "In Our Time" from BBC Radio 4, Melvyn Bragg leads a discussion with Andrew Pontzen, Katy Clough, and Toby Wiseman about the concept of wormholes. The conversation begins by establishing the vastness of the universe and the theoretical possibility of wormholes as shortcuts through space-time. The panel explores the history of the wormhole concept, tracing it from Einstein's theories of relativity to John Wheeler's coining of the term. They discuss the challenges of reconciling quantum physics with classical physics in understanding wormholes, the exotic matter required to sustain them, and the potential for time travel. While acknowledging the lack of empirical evidence for wormholes, the panelists delve into the theoretical implications of their existence, including insights into the shape of the universe, the nature of matter, and the possibility of inter-universe travel, while also touching on the creative and imaginative aspects of theoretical physics that drive such explorations.