time travel
Chronological journey impossible
Time travel is movement to a different point in time—forward into the future or backward into the past.
The concept dominates science fiction, from H.G.
Wells's *The Time Machine* to countless films about altering history.
Physicists debate whether time travel is theoretically possible; Einstein's relativity allows for time dilation, but traveling to the past remains speculative.
If time travel were possible, would you change anything?
Seemingly absurd truth
- causalityCause-effect connection
- anachronismHistorical time-placement error
- butterfly effectSmall inputs, disproportionate results
- grandfather paradoxTime travel logical contradiction
bootstrap paradox · timeline · alternate history · flashback · flash-forward · retcon · predestination · loop
How observers differ
- EinsteinByword for genius
- wormholeHypothetical spacetime tunnel
- quantumSmallest discrete unit
- tachyonFaster-than-light theoretical particle
singularity · event horizon · cosmology · physics · multiverse · dimension · fourth dimension · light speed
Time Machine author
- Doctor WhoTime-traveling alien series
- DeLoreanStainless steel automobile
- TerminatorKiller android series
- Bill and TedBodacious time travelers
TARDIS · Back to the Future · Marty McFly · Quantum Leap · Looper · Dark · 12 Monkeys · Interstellar
Imposing entrance or gate
- flux capacitorFictional temporal displacement device
- vortexRotating fluid column
- chronometerPrecision timekeeping instrument
- deviceConstructed tool or machine
apparatus · destination · coordinates · return · arrival · departure · displacement · jump
paradox
Seemingly absurd truth
- causalityCause-effect connection
- anachronismHistorical time-placement error
- butterfly effectSmall inputs, disproportionate results
grandfather paradox · bootstrap paradox · timeline · alternate history · flashback · flash-forward · retcon · predestination · loop · divergence
relativity
How observers differ
tachyon · singularity · event horizon · cosmology · physics · multiverse · dimension · fourth dimension · light speed · theory
H.G. Wells
Time Machine author
- Doctor WhoTime-traveling alien series
- DeLoreanStainless steel automobile
- TerminatorKiller android series
TARDIS · Back to the Future · Marty McFly · Bill and Ted · Quantum Leap · Looper · Dark · 12 Monkeys · Interstellar
portal
Imposing entrance or gate
- flux capacitorFictional temporal displacement device
- vortexRotating fluid column
- chronometerPrecision timekeeping instrument
device · apparatus · destination · coordinates · return · arrival · departure · displacement · jump · leap
- kids' bookschildren's literature, storybooks, picture books, easy readers, bedtime stories
- speculative fictionsci-fi, science fiction, dystopia, fantasy, futurism
- 80s sci-fiBlade Runner, E.T., The Terminator, Back to the Future, Aliens
- classic sci-fiAsimov, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Clarke, Ray Bradbury
- sci-fi techteleporter, cryonics, force fields, mind uploading, blaster
- sci-fi tropesalien invasion, teleportation, first contact, robot uprising, AI takeover
time, travel, times, timer, timely, timing, temporal, timezone, time traveler