Physicist Says He Knows How To Build A Time Machine
University of Connecticut physics professor Ron Mallett claims to have found a way to travel through time using lasers in what is either the greatest scientific accomplishment in human history or a ripe example of what happens to an educator's give-a-damn once they get tenure.
In an interview with CNN, Mallett discussed his theories, stating that he's been driven toward the science of time travel since he lost his father when he was ten years old. Since then, he's been fascinated by the subject. He now believes he may have cracked the code.
Mallett's concept is based around Einstein's theory of special relativity, which claims that the relative passage of time varies depending on the speed at which a subject moves. According to our current understanding of the subject, as an object comes close to the speed of light, the passage of time around them increases, making time travel into the future a simple matter of running really fast.
We need more time to make it work
But Mallett believes that this theory could extend further, and like any self-respecting scientist with a vendetta against the forces of nature, he wants to use lasers to prove it. Utilizing a circulating beam of light referred to as a ring laser, he theorizes that a gravitational field could be manipulated to open a portal to and from the past. He's careful to mention that there would be a caveat: you'd only be able to send and receive information starting at the point when the machine is first turned on. That's important, since if it weren't for this grounding design flaw, the whole thing would sound pretty crazy.
Professor Mallett is also quick to point out that his theories will likely never come to fruition during his lifetime. Still, he has another twelve regenerations left to iron out all of the wrinkles.