Skip to main content

Ad

space-iconSpace and Physics
clock-iconPUBLISHEDMarch 30, 2016

The Mind-Bending Thought Experiment Reveals How We Can Manipulate Time

Tom Hale headshot

Tom Hale

Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.

Senior Journalist

Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.View full profile

Tom has a Master's degree in Journalism. His editorial work covers anything from archaeology and the environment to technology and culture.

View full profile
article image
Nick Webb/Flickr. (CC BY 2.0)

Space-time is a very weird thing. The idea that time – something so seemingly constant – can be bent and manipulated is a lot to get our mere mortal minds around. That’s especially true when it’s muddled with all sorts of physics jargon.

This video from Business Insider simply demonstrates one of the most famous and mind-bending thought experiments that has come out of Einstein’s theory of relativity: The twin experiment.

But don’t let a reference to the word “theory” put you off. Numerous experiments have verified that time dilation, the effect described in the video, is a very real thing.

 

 

Main image credit: Nick Webb/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)


Written by 

Add us as a Google preferred source to see more of our
trusted coverage in Search