The Physics That Makes Interstellar Travel IMPOSSIBLE | Leonard Susskind

Описание: Interstellar travel has long been a dream of scientists, writers, and space enthusiasts. Movies like Interstellar and countless sci-fi stories make it seem possible to hop from one star system to another in a matter of years. But when we look at the real physics behind it, the dream starts to fade. The universe is vast, distances between stars are unimaginably huge, and our current understanding of physics sets strict limits on how fast and how far we can travel.

One of the biggest barriers is the speed of light. According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than light. Even if we could somehow approach that speed, the energy required would be astronomical. A spaceship moving near light-speed would need more fuel than we can realistically carry, and the tiniest collision with space dust at those speeds could destroy it. This isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s a fundamental physical limit of the universe.

Another major obstacle is time and distance. The nearest star system, Proxima Centauri, is over 4 light-years away. At the speeds of our fastest spacecraft today, it would take tens of thousands of years to reach it. Even if we developed advanced propulsion systems, like nuclear or antimatter engines, the travel time would still be immense. Humans are not designed to live for thousands of years in space, and building self-sustaining habitats that can survive such journeys adds another layer of impossibility.

Finally, interstellar travel faces cosmic hazards that make long journeys even more dangerous. Cosmic radiation, micrometeoroids, and gravitational effects from other stars could all threaten a spacecraft and its crew. Combined with the limits of energy, speed, and time, these dangers make interstellar travel not just impractical but likely impossible with our current physics. While science fiction will continue to imagine faster-than-light travel, the reality is that the laws of nature have set boundaries we may never overcome.