Chapter 88: The last missing piece

As per her understanding, 

In the seventh dimension, you have access to the possible worlds that start with different initial conditions. Whereas in the fifth and sixth, the initial conditions were the same and subsequent actions were different, here, everything is different from the very beginning of time. The eighth dimension again gives us a plane of such possible universe histories, each of which begins with different initial conditions and branches out infinitely (hence why they are called infinities).

In the ninth dimension, we can compare all the possible universe histories, starting with all the different possible laws of physics and initial conditions. In the tenth and final dimension, we arrive at the point in which everything possible and imaginable is covered. Beyond this, nothing can be imagined by us lowly mortals, which makes it the natural limitation of what we can conceive in terms of dimensions.

The existence of these additional six dimensions which we cannot perceive is necessary for String Theory in order for there to be consistency in nature. The fact that we can perceive only four dimensions of space can be explained by one of two mechanisms: either the extra dimensions are compactified on a very small scale, or else our world may live on a 3-dimensional submanifold corresponding to a brane, on which all known particles besides gravity would be restricted (aka. brane theory).

If the extra dimensions are compactified, then the extra six dimensions must be in the form of a Calabi–Yau manifold (shown above). While imperceptible as far as our senses are concerned, they would have governed the formation of the universe from the very beginning. Hence why scientists believe that peering back through time, using telescopes to spot light from the early universe (i.e. billions of years ago), they might be able to see how the existence of these additional dimensions could have influenced the evolution of the cosmos.

Much like other candidates for a grand unifying theory – aka the Theory of Everything (TOE) – the belief that the universe is made up of ten dimensions (or more, depending on which model of string theory you use) is an attempt to reconcile the standard model of particle physics with the existence of gravity. 

In short, it is an attempt to explain how all known forces within our universe interact, and how other possible universes themselves might work.

With this she derived the last missing piece. The Dimensions, of a space. 

Jia was moving onto the final step of integrating them into one and make her own law when Xin stopped her from doing so. Xin was observing and listening everything. He already knew what she was planning and what were the requirements of doing so.

"You are missing one last piece," Xin said in a solemn voice. 

"And what could be that last piece be?"

"Wormhole."

"Wormhoe?!"

"Yes, wormhole. They will be the bridge inside your law making it stabilize and hyper according to your need."

"Oh~~!!"

"Yes, and let me derive it for you."

With that Xin started his derivation for Jia. Obviously, it didn't contain all the knowledge he had accumulated. Instead it had bits and pieces in them to make Jia understand the pretty basics for her use.

According to Xin, Wormholes were first theorized in 1916, though that wasn't what they were called at the time. While reviewing another physicist's solution to the equations in Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, Austrian physicist Ludwig Flamm realized another solution was possible. He described a "white hole," a theoretical time reversal of a black hole. Entrances to both black and white holes could be connected by a space-time conduit.

In 1935, Einstein and physicist Nathan Rosen used the theory of general relativity to elaborate on the idea, proposing the existence of "bridges" through space-time. These bridges connect two different points in space-time, theoretically creating a shortcut that could reduce travel time and distance. The shortcuts came to be called Einstein-Rosen bridges, or wormholes.

Wormholes contain two mouths, with a throat connecting the two. The mouths would most likely be spheroidal. The throat might be a straight stretch, but it could also wind around, taking a longer path than a more conventional route might require.

Einstein's theory of general relativity mathematically predicts the existence of wormholes, but none have been discovered to date. A negative mass wormhole might be spotted by the way its gravity affects light that passes by.

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.

The first problem is size. Primordial wormholes are predicted to exist on microscopic levels, about 10–33 centimeters. However, as the universe expands, it is possible that some may have been stretched to larger sizes.

Another problem comes from stability. The predicted Einstein-Rosen wormholes would be useless for travel because they collapse quickly. 

"You would need some very exotic type of matter in order to stabilize a wormhole," said Hsu, "and it's not clear whether such matter exists in the universe."

But more recent research found that a wormhole containing "exotic" matter could stay open and unchanging for longer periods of time.

Exotic matter, which should not be confused with dark matter or antimatter, contains negative energy density and a large negative pressure. Such matter has only been seen in the behavior of certain vacuum states as part of quantum field theory.

If a wormhole contained sufficient exotic matter, whether naturally occurring or artificially added, it could theoretically be used as a method of sending information or travelers through space. Unfortunately, human journeys through the space tunnels may be challenging.

Wormholes may not only connect two separate regions within the universe, they could also connect two different universes. Similarly, some scientists have conjectured that if one mouth of a wormhole is moved in a specific manner, it could allow for time travel.

Xin was indirectly referring that wormhole and time travel are connected and possible. But he didn't pose it before Jia. Instead jumbled it many times and represented it before her.

Although adding exotic matter to a wormhole might stabilize it to the point that human passengers could travel safely through it, there is still the possibility that the addition of "regular" matter would be sufficient to destabilize the portal.

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.

"But you can do so with the help of magiculus particles," Xin added.

Wormholes hold a strong grip on our collective imagination. In a way, they are a delightful form of escapism. Unlike black holes which are a bit frightening as they trap everything that ventures in, wormholes may allow us to travel to faraway places faster than the speed of light. They may in fact even be time machines, providing a way to travel backwards – as suggested by the late Stephen Hawking in his final book.

Wormholes also crop up in quantum physics, which rules the world of atoms and particles. According to quantum mechanics, particles can pop out of empty space, only to disappear a moment later. This has been seen in countless experiments. And if particles can be created, why not wormholes? Physicists believe wormholes may have formed in the early universe from a foam of quantum particles popping in and out of existence. Some of these "primordial wormholes" may still be around today.

Experiments on "quantum teleportation" – a "disembodied" transfer of quantum information from one location to another – can turned out to work in an eerily similar way to two black holes connected through a wormhole. "But these experiments will need the use of magiculus," Xin added again.

These experiments appear to solve the "quantum information paradox", which suggests physical information could permanently disappear in a black hole. But they also reveal a deep connection between the notoriously incompatible theories of quantum physics and gravity – with wormholes being relevant to both – which may be instrumental in the construction of a "theory of everything".

The fact that wormholes play a role in these fascinating developments is unlikely to go unnoticed. We may not have seen them, but they could certainly be out there. They may even help us understand some of the deepest cosmic mysteries, such as whether our universe is the only one.

Now hearing all this, many doubts between Black holes and Wormholes were rising in Jia's mind. She was about to ask them out when Xin took the initiative from his own side and started explaining.

"Mhm… Let me clear the doubts you are having in simple language.  If you have ever seen a science fiction movie, you might know the following scenario: a scientist needs to explain to her friends how wormholes work. She takes a piece of paper and draws a point on the top and bottom of the page. The page represents space, she says. Typically, traveling from point A to point B would take millions of years. She folds the paper so the points are overlapping and stabs her pencil through the page. This, she says, is a wormhole — it folds space and punches a hole through it, creating a shortcut.

The scenario is a fairly accurate representation of wormholes. Wormholes fold space and time and create a bridge between two distant points. If a person traveled through a wormhole, they could end up anywhere, at any time. At the moment, wormholes are only theoretical. No person has observed a wormhole in real life. And the reason is till now they don't know the use of magiculus particles. However, scientists have observed black holes.

Black holes and wormholes are similar, except for one thing: where a wormhole creates a bridge between two points, a black hole leads to a dead end. This dead end is called a singularity. This singularity is a tiny point in space that is so dense, nothing, not even light, can escape its gravitational pull if it passes by a black hole too closely. If a person entered a black hole, their body would be pulled inward and stretched like a piece of spaghetti until the singularity absorbed them completely."