A highly speculative idea of modern astrophysics, wormholes are theoretical possibilities allowed within the mathematical framework of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. A wormhole is a short-lived portal, lasting only a brief moment, that joins two black holes in different locations.
Wormholes could connect two points in the present-day universe or, perhaps, in different times. In wormhole theory, matter falling into a black hole at one point should emerge through a proposed “white hole” which is the reverse of a black hole at the other end. Certain solutions of general relativity allow for the existence of wormholes where the mouth of each is a black hole. However, a naturally occurring black hole, formed by the collapse of a dying star, does not by itself create a wormhole. Neither wormholes nor any evidence of them has yet been observed. Scientists cannot determine how they would be created, even though many astrophysicists such as Stephen Hawking have worked on this fascinating notion for many years.
Stephen Hawking conjectured that while wormholes might be created, they cannot be used for time travel; even with exotic matter stabilizing the wormhole against its own instabilities, he argued that inserting a particle into it will destabilize it quickly enough to prevent its use. This is known as the Chronology Protection Conjecture.
Today’s technology is insufficient to enlarge or stabilize wormholes, even if they could be found. However, scientists continue to explore the concept as a method of space travel with the hope that technology will eventually be able to utilize them. Wormholes are great theoretical fun and are seemingly valid solutions of the Einstein equations. However, there is no experimental evidence for them, this should not stop any budding science-fiction writers from using them as needed!
References:
1. https://www.britannica.com/science/wormhole
2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wormhole
3. Discover magazine
4. https://phys.org/news/2015-12-wormholes.html
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