NASA Expert Confirms: Doctor Who's Time Travel Theories Are Astonishingly Accurate
Astrophysicist praises Doctor Who's accuracy in depicting a real-world concept
An astrophysicist has made a surprising claim about the accuracy of Doctor Who's portrayal of the concept of time. The iconic BBC sci-fi series, which has been captivating audiences for almost 60 years, will commemorate its 60th anniversary with special episodes and smaller productions in late 2023. In an interview with Reuters, University of Sydney astrophysicist Geraint Lewis discussed the representation of time in the show, particularly in relation to black holes and time dilation. Lewis even quoted a line from David Tennant's Tenth Doctor to support his argument. Read his full explanation below.
Time is a complex concept in modern physics. As Dr. Who aptly described it, time can be best characterized as 'wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff.' This implies that our understanding of time is limited and certain possibilities, such as time travel and warp drives, have not been completely disproven. The future holds the potential for exciting advancements, albeit with some uncertainty."
Just How Accurate To The Real World Can Doctor Who Can Be?
While Doctor Who primarily revolves around a traveler from a distant realm battling monsters and uncovering the depths of human history, it strives to maintain a certain level of scientific accuracy within its expanding fictional universe. In its early stages, co-creator Sydney Newman envisioned Doctor Who as an educational show, aimed at enlightening younger viewers about history. However, the immense popularity of the Daleks led to a shift towards a more fantastical narrative. Nevertheless, certain portrayals of renowned individuals, such as the Vincent Van Gough story, continue to be celebrated within the series to this day.
Doctor Who has also made astonishing predictions that would later come true. In the episode "The Long Game" from 2005, humanity in the future is manipulated through news broadcasts created by the villainous Editor (played by Simon Pegg) and the Jagrafess. These broadcasts instill fear in order to hinder the progress of the human race. The episode's portrayal of news broadcasts has continued to resonate as concerns grow regarding AI-generated imagery and deep fake technology.
Although Doctor Who's accuracy may vary, it may come as a surprise that one of the Tenth Doctor's most notable lines contains a grain of truth. The phrase "Wibbly-Wobbly, Timey-Wimey stuff" is memorable because it encapsulates the show's perplexing approach to time-travel mechanics in a whimsical and self-aware manner. Therefore, Lewis' abrupt endorsement of Doctor Who's depiction of time is likely to astonish devoted fans.
Source: Reuters
