First. If you could go back in time what would you do? Stop Antonio Luna from going to Cabanatuan? Stop Ferdinand Marcos from leaving Malacanang in 1986? Prevent the death of a loved one? Win the lottery in 2000 and leave it to your future self? Buy stocks in Google or Apple? Or watch the Triumph of Julius Ceasar as he entered Rome? Second, would you rather go a world where Antonio Luna did not die and he was able to convert Baguio into a fortress? Or perhaps a world where things turn out differently?
Time travel and multiple world have been a common thread in Art and Culture. It would be interesting to look at has there been a scientific basis for this and has Science & Technoloy had an impact in this thread of Art & Culture, and vise-versa?
One recent and entertaining examples of this is the cartoon Futurama, where in the episode Roswell that Ends Well and Farnsworth Paradox. In films you can see this in Terminator; Back to the Future; Somewhere in Time; The Time Machines; Looper and the 12 Monkeys. Or perhaps you might remember the other tv series like Time Tunnel; Dr Who; Quantum Leap; and those Star Trek episodes. But does this have a scientific basis?
Interestingly enough there are theories for the Grandfather Paradox; Multiple Worlds and time travel. It is a world that can be equally aggressive as any chronos-time war and confusing as the Crisis in Infinite World. There is the story of a party hosted by Stephen Hawkins complete with food and champagne but no guests, since the invite was only given a few days after the party. Hawkin’s point was quite clear. Time travel back into time was not possible. Although, nothing in Science and Technology is written in stone.
The Theory of Multiple Worlds came about because of the study of Quantum Physics. Scientists observe that in the quantum universe things were not behaving as they should: based on the established laws of physics. Something else was at work. Multiple Worlds made it possible to explain how these things work differently from what was expected. And now we even have String Theory.
Physics is not my area of science but it is important to see how Art and Culture were able to explain the physics of time travel and multiple worlds by depicting it in the form of a story. Making more palatable to its viewer and reader. In the process making the science more understandable.
There is however a caveat to this. The first one would be the depiction of science and technology in art and culture becomes credible when grounded in actual study. The second it should recognise that Art and Culture has an equally important effect on Science and Technology. And this is because Art and Culture conveys: (i) Ideas that are hoped for: a better world via Science & Technology; (ii) Society’s concern over the use of Science & Technology: Frankenstein’s Monster & the Atom Bomb; (iii) Warning of the consequences of actions in the future: I am Legend and a Distant Sound of Thunder; and (iv) glorying or condemning Man, Science & Technology: The Veldt and the Martian
Also as we enjoy the products of Art & Culture that inspire and in return inspire Science & Technology one vital thing that must be considered when learning about their scientific basis is that these are products of the scientific process. In other words these theorems and laws are considered plausible and valid because they were proven, until at such point were they proven to be otherwise. In Science and Technology the only thing dogmatic is the adherence to critical thinking and importance of valid proof.
I have long viewed the concept of Time Travel as something unfeasible, seeing it only in the light of Science Fiction and regarding it as a product of the mind of creative writers. However, by watching Futurama, not only did I came to know that there are actually not one but several theories on the works in explaining of how the phenomena can exist, but I saw in a way that made me become more engrossed in the topic by incorporating humor and technical science in a perfect mix – perfect for kids and university students alike. The theory that interested me the most is the Grandfather theorem. A lot of us is interested in time travel for it seems to harness a lot of power to change the past and the future, but what if that is not the case? What if everything is predetermined and we are really just going along with a plan? That is something to think about.
Then again, although the light is still dim for now, I await the day that I can say that the Futurama episodes that we have watched is already a reality.
Just some musings: the manner of which art and the sciences interact is very fascinating; art is created by man through time so much as theorems and laws are, and in the sense that a proverbial “birth” happens continually, both fields should be bestowed equal grace, I think. Man really is just grappling for the truth, right? Each step we take each new day as a species is new and unfamiliar, and therefore whatever any one of us produces (whether in the form of art or logic) is a victory for our species’ entirety. Our records of art and science through all history are like our badges – these are what we’ve created and discovered. Our experiences everyday drive us to produce either of the two; they’re almost like tallies of what we know, what we imagine, what we believe, and what we almost fully understand. Quite a romantic and hopeful way of looking at the two.
I believe that these theories stating that having multiple or parallel worlds or even the possibility of time travel all came from man’s desire to live beyond the present world. I agree particularly with art and culture inspiring science and technology because man’s inventiveness is expressed in his innovative ideas, fueled by tradition, culture, and upbringing.
Carissa Lim
2014-01579
STS THX
The human brain is indeed a very dynamic and an impressive one. It explores not only the past and the present, but also the future. In fact, the idea of time travel is a magnificent idea and the consequences that it might bring could change the reality. I do not know any person who had experienced time travel. However, this idea is present on non- fictional films and animations, and one of those is the Futurama.
I appreciate the science lessons that this cartoon brings. It does not only brings smiles on the viewers’ faces, but it also changes our views regarding time. The existence of parallel universe, theories regarding time and paradox are some possible phenomena that are proposed by experts and scientists. Proofs behind these theories are not yet complete and are still under further studies. What’s important is that people would never stop thinking and wondering about our existence and the truth behind our environment.
The essence of people is thinking. Without this ability, we are not what we are today. The idea of time travel is an indication that people wonder and we continue to think. However, as we open our minds to a new world of discoveries, we must also accept the fact that there is always something that would remain a mystery. Our human minds would never unveil what’s behind those mysteries. Only God has that ability.
ASUNCION, Ven John B.
2015-07359
STS THY
Art, culture, science and technology have equal impact to humankind’s perception of what is acceptable or not. In the case of an eoisode of Futurama, we can see how art and culture are used in order to convey a message from man’s own imagination and thinking.
Jesse Doctor
BA Communication Research
2013-11425
Art, culture, science and technology equally influence human’s perceptions about a certain phenomenon. For example, an episode by Futurama suggest how these elements connect with each other in order to create concept/ as products of man’s own imagination and thinking. What is interesting here is the ability of the writer or creator of the cartoon to generate ideas such as the ones presented in the episode to present a phenomenon that has not happened yet.
Jesse Doctor
2013-11425
There is honestly no other time I wish to go back to more than my kindergarten years, so that I could relive my life. Despite being fond of wild flights of fantasy, I am a realist to the core. I just can’t reconcile who I am with a radically different time—wouldn’t that completely obliterate the person I am now, which in turn would change my choice of era in the first place, which in turn would…well, time travel is tricky.
Why bother going back to a historic moment to try and change history? Most of us wouldn’t have enough power, money or influence to change much anyway. We’ll just be dismissed as another crazy conspiracy theorist or flung into an asylum for our “weird, crazy predictions”. We have enough problems of our own, kinks we can root out in the intricate weave of our own pasts, to keep us busy. Of course, starting over and “reconstructing” our lives would mean a whole new roster of mistakes and missed opportunities, but one can hope.
As for another world, my ideal is a utopian society which could designate citizens to the best conditions for their personal growth and happiness. A society run by algorithms so complex that they are impossible for a single person to validate, yet so effective that it indubitably maximizes everyone’s potential. Most people bristle at the thought of being told what to do or having their choices restricted. There seems to be something degrading and dehumanizing in accepting that we are in control of very little, but to me this is quite liberating. Controlling one’s whole life would mean being endlessly preoccupied, logically sifting through all the possibilities and their probabilities plus their interactions with one another. Which is exactly why our brains don’t do that. So instead of leaving things to chance and mental shortcuts, why not to a perfectly rational system? I’m a practical person. I’d rather be a happy bolt in a perfect machine than the powerful controller of a faulty one.
Clarysse Alfonso
2012-59003
I think it’s interesting to think about time travel especially after my group’s presentation on teleportation, since it is essentially teleporting to a different time. After a little research on the possibility of this happening, it’s pretty clear that doing so would take lots and lots of research since in the present day and age, scientists are able to teleport extremely small molecules over a small space, what more through the plain of space and time? Nevertheless, creating theories and ways for time travel to happen through stories is such a highly creative yet scientific process, I think that the subject will never stop being popular in popular culture and fiction.
Time travel, existence of a parallel universe and etc. are some scientific concepts that has been showcased by the film industry and also have been the topic of certain sci-fi books and TV series, for it stirs imagination which in turn gives entertainment to the viewers/readers. Also, this scientific concepts might also be a representation of how men are trying to look for another universe to finally escape the current situations governing modern day reality. It shows the hidden desire of men to escape the issues about nature, politics etc. Plus the time travel theories mirror how humans want to go back in time and change the current state of the present by altering the past. And this scientific concepts are not easily digested by common people because science for them are considered too technical and somehow boring. This (i think) was the reason why art and science needs to be merged. Science, a serious topic, comes in balance with Art which is a lighter one. Science gives the facts and Art gives the laughs. And we somehow fell in love with this unification.
Marc Benedict B. Talamayan
STS THX
2015-03672
Thinking about time-travel can be as complex as trying to understand time itself. When did everything start, for example? It is a concept that cannot be fully comprehended by the brain and, as such, I think that the use of cartoons to make simple a very complex theory (or theories) is an intelligent move by Futurama.
However, my opinion on the matter is that whether or not time travel is made available to use in the future, I will not change anything. Viewing movies that concern changing the paste (e.g. the Christmas favorite: It’s a Wonderful Life) scares you into believing that even one change can affect so many other things. For example, the main character in that movie thought that had he not existed, everything else would be better. But when the past was changed and he was never born, he saw the world without him: everything that he contributed to were suddenly gone.
Considering that, I think that if we changed one thing in the past, everything would be drastically different: and that scares me because as much as the world right now is imperfect, I like the world as it is.
MARTIN ALEXANDER F. CRUZ
2015-08545
STS-THX
The various theories surrounding the concept of time travel amaze me, even if I don’t particularly believe that time travel is something possible. However, working with the hypothetical situations presented by these theories really make you believe that something as farfetched as travelling back in time is possible, and that it poses a bigger threat to the entire universe than you think. What I was able to take away from reading this, though, is that science and technology must always work in synergy with the many arts and cultures in the world – never against each other. The desire of men to learn and enhance their ‘living experiences’ has urged them to think far outside the limits they thought they had. Hopefully, this drive and passion for learning is something that can be acquired by everyone, and applied towards the greater good of society
Ever since I was a kid, I remember dreaming of how it would be great to travel back in time. This wishful thinking of mine was born from simple, naive thoughts like wishing I could go back in time to avoid being reprimanded by my mom because of the vase I broke or to perfect an exam since I would already know the questions (a foolish thought, if I may say so). Then, as I grew older, this dream of mine didn’t fade. It even became stronger as “What If’s” and regrets started crossing my mind.
Based from my experience above, I think that the concept of time traveling comes from people’s desires to take control of time. One could travel back in time to change something, be it a major or minor event. One could travel into the future and have the knowledge of what will or can happen. All of these delve into the concept of time which we all know to be very precious and isn’t something that we can manipulate. Thus, to satisfy our curiosity and desire, “time travelling” was born.
With the influence of Art and Culture, time travelling was entertained more in people’s minds and is continuously being entertained up until now. There are debates and studies about this in order to know if it really is possible to travel through time. Theories were made and the concept of parallel or multiple universe was even created to avoid paradoxical events. There are also countless movies, shows, and stories which were based from this idea. From the looks of it, I doubt that it will lose its popularity anytime soon. Time travelling will continue to appeal to people as the years pass by.
Olaes, Chelsie Lauren T.
2014-13213
STS THY
I think that going back in time would not really be helpful. For example I did something wrong in the past that I regret, then I go back in time to fix it. I may have fixed the problem by not doing or doing the opposite of what I did before, but by doing something different will cause another thing that did not happen before to happen, being not familiar with this effect I may again do something wrong, which will lead me to go back this time to this instance, so on and so forth. this will just lead to a loop of unending time travel. I believe that man is destined to commit mistakes and learn to live with it. This helps us grow and become stronger. unlike someone who would just go back in time to correct his/her mistakes, afraid of facing the consequences of his/her actions.
john guevarra
2011-15274
Never say never! Science as a branch of knowledge is one of the more dynamic fields. I wouldn’t be surprised if 40-50 years from now we are able to do time travel, wether to the future or back. But of course, we should do it with caution, just like that Futurama episode that one small change in the past can lead to a bigger change in the future. If ever in the future that time travel would be possible, there should be some restrictions in what a time traveller can do. It probably could be just looking back at your happy memories, or whatever.
In the end, we should always think about all our actions and decisions that we do today. We never know how will this affect our lives and everybody’s lives in the future
Erwin Mate, THY, 2012-30127
I have read the story of “The Sound of Thunder”, and it wisely depicted the concept of time machine or time travel. People, nowadays, are fond of “what if’s” especially in the case of going to the past and changing some things that might have worst and terrible repercussions; however, these things are meant to be placed in a hollow container of the past that should not be touched or changed. It is by changing the past that we condemn to change our future. It is very interesting that Physics theorizes simple arts and culture of imaginative time traveling and holds its concepts to visualize certain phenomenon that different worlds might be really existing without our conceived thoughts. However, this concept of time travel as culture and arts makes a lot of unifying thread of ideas as science and technology imparted its opportunities to also rediscover and elaborate it, specifically, by knowing the unknown and doing the undone through careful understanding and calculation of SCIENTIFIC METHOD.
Jaquelyn F. Vidal
2015-01581
STS THY
It is fascinating to think about the possibility of time travel and multiple worlds. You can only wonder what it would be like if you can go back in time and alter things and events in the past, or see yourself in an alternate universe. It would be nice for once to be able to be “outside of the box”.
Al Santamaria
STS THY
2015-08736
With the discussion of art, culture, and science and technology, the concept of a Renaissance man and his products seems to be relevant. An ideal great mind is one that not only processes the scientific and the objective, but also one that can fathom and create products in the realm of the arts and the social fields. The ultimate goal of science and technology is supposedly to make the world a better place- particularly for human beings, but all of these can only be fully realized and appreciated with the consideration of our human-ness so to speak. The science to extend life for example is not merely to extend existence, but it is to extend the time & opportunity for us to experience more in life- to do the things that give meaning to our existence.
Ava Lee
2014-01650
STS THX 1st Sem 2015-2016
I love science, and one of the reasons I was so interested in it is because I loved to read. I would always encounter random theories and fields of study in the stories I would read, which would give me a small glimpse of what they were about and would interest me to learn more about the topics! The multiverse, in particular, is something I keep encountering. While it definitely isn’t proven, it’s really fascinating to me how in another universe, I, for example, get heads instead of tails in a coin flip, creating a decision that affects my entire life (like Fry and Leela! hahaha)
It’s also a very appropriate day for thinking about time travel (10/21/2015)! Back to the Future is another great depiction in media of time travel and its many possible consequences! 🙂
Sabrina Buensuceso
2011-18086
STS THX
A persistent thought about time travel that always gets to me is how everything is already pre-meditated. If you go back in time and change something and it [supposedly] affects something in the present, and it happens to be something that already exists *before* you traveled back, does that mean that you were meant to do it, or that time and space somehow knew that you’d end up going back for that outcome to happen? I used to view time travel as some indirect form of teleportation, except between periods and not places. However I can’t help but wonder what it is exactly that dictates the continuity and eventual effects of our actions in the past/present (and future?) It’s kind of like the concept of fate and destiny in Greek mythology, except we don’t know who (or what) is calling all the shots
Louise Santos
2013-59277 (STS THY)
Honestly, I never wanted to change anything from the past, although I find the thought of witnessing historical events with my very own eyes. But maybe there was a reason, a divine intervention, perhaps, why time travelling is never an actual thing. Maybe the world is telling us not to live in the past – that we have so much going on in front of us, and much more ahead of us, that we might miss the good ones if we get stuck looking back. I don’t want to live the life of someone else back then. I want to live mine, right here, right now.
Time travel has always been a point of fantasy for many a man, be it as an enthusiast in science or as a casual thinker swimming in thought. The endless cycle of “what could’ve been?” and “what if?” run amok in their minds. I confess I belong to these people. Time travel gives a whole new meaning to the significance of one event being connected to all those that succeeds it. Much as depicted rather dramatically in the realm of arts, every decision and every small action opens up to a myriad of possibilities. It would be interesting that like many of the science fiction of yesterday became scientific reality of today, I’d hope this fantasy would turn into a reality so much so that the answers to our questions are met to further our cause as humanity. The science is not quite there yet but I believe that one day, that breakthrough will happen and a whole new dimension opens up to us.
David Laureta
2013-14807
STS THY
I enjoy the fact that Art & Culture is greatly related to Science and Technology. The theory of multiple word showed how things behave differently from what is expected. This lets us see things in a different perspective. The most out of the world stories like Back in the Future, Terminator and etc., which are very familiar among us, show this connection among things.
Danielle Anne A. Cruz 2014-53998
STS THX
If I were to go back in time, I would go back to the times when I was supposed to study or do academic requirements but I didn’t. I admit that I am a “chronic procrastinator”. I would really love it if I could go back to the moments when I wasted so much time on various things so that I could avoid ending up stressed and sleep-deprived due to cramming.
Time travel is such an interesting concept. It is interesting but also dangerous because of its huge consequences as suggested by theories such as the Grandfather Paradox and the Multiple Worlds Theory. There is no wonder to the fact that time travel is a famous theme in various outputs of art and culture such as novels, movies, among others. Writers are free to write whatever they think of. But I agree that it would be helpful if such stories are grounded on actual scientific theories. I myself enjoy watching or reading materials which make me understand complicated concepts easily. That is why I really enjoyed watching these episodes of Futurama. I am planning to watch more Futurama episodes after this semester!
Vallesteros, Veatriz Rafaelle
2012-22043
STS THX
Through the use of art, even ordinary people can understand topics that are surely mind-boggling and involve a lot of critical thinking in the process. Through the shows such as the Futurama, ideas and concepts are made simple so that even children can understand it. Adding to this is that Futurama isn’t just a sci-fi cartoon but also a comedy one. Science infused with humor will surely not get you bored.
If theories would get to be proven true and time-travelling became possible, wouldn’t going back in time and then somehow accidentally killing even just a butterfly change the future in every possible way? Just like what we call a domino effect? Thinking about this would give us a lot of risks if it really became possible. This is also a favorite theme in movies and I guess it’ll continue to be it until it become feasible.
Aljon Carlos. Callo III
2015-09922
STS – THX
The idea of time traveling has long piqued my interest. Just imagine, if such thing is possible, you can go back and undo all the things you’ve done and do all the things you wished you’ve done. That way, there would be no regret in the world. For there is this big ‘undo’ button called time traveling that can help you. When it was proposed as one of the possible topics in the group reporting, I was low-key crossing my fingers that we’ll get that (but, oh well). The topic is really interesting and will arouse so many questions in your head. For example: if one person time traveled from a day in summer to a day in winter, and considering Earth’s revolution around the sun, would that person be floating off in space because HE is the only one who moved and NOT the whole real world and because the position of summertime Earth in its orbit is different from that of the wintertime Earth? (I hope that made sense.) See? So mind-boggling. And I can say, with all confidence, that time travel can be really possible in the future. The world is just too big for any possibility to be definitely impossible.
Nicole Ashly Gomez
2015-03149
STS THY
Indeed, it is very interesting to see how science and technology affect the arts and culture through works like these. People normally get confused on the technicality and complexity of the different scientific theories. like time traveling or teleportation, when read from the textbook, however we enjoy these when a certain story invokes these and make these “unrealistic” events seem plausible.
It will not be a wonder if movies of the sci-fi genre would still be at large since science and human knowledge progresses and will continue to progress maybe until these abstract ideas become real.
John Caleb M. Mante
STS THY
I believe that the idea of Time Travel has its loopholes around it. What if time is predestined? That even if you try to change the past it wouldn’t and we would still live in one timeline? What if time is not predestined? That if you change an event in history everything would change after? What if the effects of this change affect your life, or even kill your existence? I believe that time is only found in fiction and can never become real; but there’s still a possibility and science is not a constant thing.
But in hindsight, science plays a big role in arts and culture, especially in fictions. It even has its own genre: Sci-Fi. These stories create the questions of “what ifs” in our minds and creates a vivid image of science can achieve. It changes the perception of each of us and would know the capabilities of science if gone further.
Gyle Tampil
STS THY
2015-00320
Going back to the time where we committed the biggest mistakes of our life! (who does not imagine or dream about it?) Time travel has been the talk of the town even before. We are always enthusiastic regarding the idea of correcting the past. We are afraid to commit mistakes but in reality, we are just curious what could possibly happen if we alter our decisions.
Science made me expect that multiple worlds do really happen. Because of the power of it, I’m sure that it can change the whole nation. Almost everyday, the probability that we invent unusual and awesomazing things rapidly increase. Technology is the living proof of it. But at the end of the day, our end goal is to use Science and Technology to attain common good.
Arianne Rose S. Agustin
2013-05202
STS-THX
“What if?” is a common question we ask ourselves and is also what theories of time travel and multiple worlds hope to answer and address. This question is further fueled and stimulated in our minds by products resulting from the interactions of art, culture and science, such as popular literature and films. As pop culture attempts to depict these scientific theories in an understandable and entertaining manner, we find ourselves asking more questions, developing a critical mind, and even engaging in discussions with others in search for more proofs.
In my opinion, our interest in time travel and multiple worlds stems from our personal desire to do more and to be better people. It is more of an “I wish..” than a “what if?”. We want to given another chance to reverse our mistakes or say and do things we missed out on. But in reality, in life, we are given countless opportunities and chances to do better. And that we become better by committing these very mistakes and learning from them. We are all flawed but we have the capability to transform ourselves and rise above by learning from our imperfections. This I believe is an essence of life that is being challenged by the said theories.
Sophia Bianca Bautista Ramos
2012-27241
STS THX
If by chance that in the future, technology can make the idea of time travel possible, I really think that it would just make things more complicated. Well, imagine a world that only looks back to correct its mistakes or maybe a world that goes ahead of everything just to dictate what’s to happen next. In short, time will completely be in our hands. Yes, it may be the answer to all our problems since if we commit mistakes, we could just time travel and undo what we did wrong. But, if we come to think of it, we will not be careful of our actions, we will not be sensitive of the effects of what we will do to other people, we will not be responsible in our own doings. We will just keep on moving, making mistakes, time traveling if things go wrong – repeating the process all over again. I believe that even if in the near future, if technology can be capable, if we can be capable of allowing time travel, maybe we should let it pass and just let things happen casually. It does not mean that if we could, we should. What matters most is that we should value the present more than our mistakes in the past or our destiny in the future.
Orquiza, Raymille Darra T.
2014-61509
STS THX
Time travel and parallel universe have always been a fascination. Though they only exist in fiction movies, a lot of people believe that they are true and possible. I remember my friend telling me that she believes that parallel universe really exists,that there is another her existing somewhere and that whenever you look at a star, you are looking into the eyes of that another you. Then, if that’s the case I hope that the owner of the eyes that I am looking into whenever I stare at a star, wherever she is, is happy and doing well. Whether fiction or really possible, I don’t think time travel would do any good for the people today. People today can take advantage and they could use time travel as a way to harm others or to obtain their greedy wants and desires.
Ramirez, Abigeal D.
2015-04979
STS THY
Returning to the past can be done sooner or later. This can be soon fulfilled by the scientists who hardly work just to invent a machine who can take us back to the past. But returning to past has effects, either good or bad. Whatever actions made while you are in the past, have results even the smallest thing done there can change the present. So I think returning back the time is a not a good idea, because we don’t have the right to undo the things we have done and we should not interfere with the flow of the time.
Caracas, Joseph Renier O.
2015-03473
STS THX
The idea of time travel is actually scary. Art and culture — movies, TV shows like Futurama, literature, etc — have portrayed time as too delicate a thing to be dealt with. When the past is revisited, the smallest action will alter the course of history, causing it to unravel into something else entirely. While I am interested in witnessing important historic events with my own eyes, time travel is something I would rather not delve in. What if I do go back to the past and accidentally commit a mistake at the cost of mankind? The weight of every careful decision is too much to bear on my shoulders.
True, in our everyday experiences the rules are the same — watch what you do because there are always consequences. But in this case the reactions are magnified a hundred times more. We are not looking at mere ripples but waves 20, 50, 100 years into the future, affecting not only our own selves and where we stand but the whole of the earth’s population.
Furthermore, if time travel were to be made available by modern technology, conflict would arise in our already complicated lives. Access to time travel would most likely be limited, possibly to those on top of the food chain — giving them more power than they already have and more to abuse. (Want to eliminate an enemy? Go back in time and prevent him from even being born! Come back to the present time and see that you have made 10 more enemies because of your thoughtless actions!) Wars will be fought for the eradication of or control over this deadly weapon.
Wanting time travel to exist could be a projection of our desire as humans to be perfect, or at least better — to undo past mistakes. Unfortunately, most do not reflect on the consequences of this mentality. Newton’s third law: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. You think you are just lifting a book out of the shelf but you are also leaving a gaping hole where it once was. We must look at all facets of the situations we want to have and experience, and not just at one side — not merely the one shining directly at us but at the ones facing other people as well.
Abigail Zara
2014-32873
STS THX
The concept of time travel has not just been very complicated to understand but also very difficulty to visualize. For instance, in the Grandfather Paradox, it became a paradox – a statement that contradict itself – a logically invalid statement because how could it ever happen that you, yourself, is your grandfather? It is like something of a loop or a cycle that at least has no beginning like that of the concept of infinite time – a concept that transcends today’s constructs of reality.
Allen Renaldo O. Cruz
2012-32153
STS THX
I like that the article described the power of media entertainment in educating the masses about complex scientific concepts. Interstellar is one recent example that teaches about worm holes, black holes, time dilation, and five-dimension beings in a thrilling and engaging manner such that the audience could easily digest them. While movies are not always 100% accurate with their scientific facts often for creative license, they are good enough to inspire scientific curiosity and imagination in many people.
Jed Patrick P. Datu
2012-58445
STS THY
Art and science definitely work hand in hand.
Science’s purpose is not just to improve lives; it also makes us aware of the world in which we live, enabling us to appreciate it more. The discoveries of science are often most effectively communicated through art, and this spurs more people (not just the scientists) to stand in awe of the beauty of this world.
This purpose of science may seem unimportant in this age wherein technological advances are the thing, especially with all the problems faced by man. This focus on practicality and loss of appreciation for beauty is probably one reason why the world is becoming a less pleasant place.
If we took a look at nature, we would see that its design shows not only room for practicality and efficiency but also room for pleasure and play. For instance, the mechanism of the human body is too precise to comprehend. At the same time, the diversity of flavors we can taste is a leisure we can enjoy. We’ll survive without it– yet we still have it, thankfully.
The creativity and intelligence behind it is simply astounding. It deserves another look from us.
– Kristine Larissa B. Yu
2013-14910
STS THY
Indeed, humans are engrossed with anything that is involved in changing the present circumstances for the betterment of themselves. We always seek for the best. We always want to question ourselves with a lot of what ifs eventhough we clearly know that it’s impossible. The concept of time travel truly answers all of these aspirations and questions. Perhaps this is the main reason why time travel is a mainstream subject in the areas of science, arts and culture. I have read the short stories entitled “By his bootstraps” and “The Sound of Thunder”. The two of them are about time travel but these stories contradict in some ways. The first story specifically emphasize that time already has a kind of destiny for us. This is what we call as a predestination paradox. A predestination paradox ensures that history is not changed by the time traveller’s actions and that whatever has happened was meant to happen. Anything you do while in the process of time travel will only result with you fulfilling your destiny. However, the second story presented the Ripple effect wherein even a very simple change in the past can or may cause a big change in the future. This two stories are really something to reflect on since they are masterpieces relating to great visualization, mechanics and the like.
Everything about it is truly mind-blowing. The reality of this world is something that we cannot stop from continuously transforming impossibilities to possibilities. There would always be room for innate capacities to change everything we know.
Dianne Robee Maye Monte
2015-01609
STS THY
As mentioned in this post, Hawking debunks the idea of time travel but he considers the possibility of parallel universes, just like in the Farnsworth Paradox episode. Like in the episode, parallel universes are said to be created by the choices we make. For example, the toss coin in the episode. The result of the toss coin created a parallel universe wherein the girl accepted the guy’s invitation to date him. But parallel universes aren’t only created in situations with two choices like the toss coin. It is created by situations with infinite choices. Each choice will create a parallel universe with a different outcome and a different future altogether. It really is an interesting idea because it provides an infinite number of possibilities. In a parallel universe, I might be a billionaire, I might have a love life, I might have good grades or I might not even exist! This also implies the idea that we might have different versions of ourselves. The idea amuses me.
Jean Mariz S. Villanueva
2014-21180
STS THX
The line from this blog post that struck me the most read: “There is nothing in science that is written in stone.” This idea has been one of the driving forces in my life to learn more about science. It’s about discover despite there being no proof of something existing. I believe in there being a lot more to learn about, things that the future generations have yet to discover. I like how Futurama attacks this way of thinking: the what if’s that we’ve always had. What if we could go back in time and change the past, would we do it? I enjoyed watching Futurama in STS because it is sound proof that art and culture promote science in a way that it gives us hope. It shows us that anything is possible when we are able to study it well. Though this hasn’t been accomplished yet, I have no doubt that the there will be people of the future who can create something just as extraordinary.
I also appreciate how art and culture give a perspective on the consequences of science. It is important to be visionaries for tomorrow, but it is equally relevant to keep grounded and remember the things that are more important — living in the present and basking in the life we are blessed with.
DYCHIAO, Robyn Gayle Kho
2015-07342
STS-THX
Time travel has been one of the most fascinating and intriguing concept for years. It has been a popular idea in movies and books. Some of the most famous time travel themed stories include Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Terminator movies, and Interstellar. There are so many interesting theories and paradoxes made about time travel. For instance, what if you went back in time to stop your parents from meeting? You would have stopped yourself from ever being born. But there is also the idea that if you had not been born, you could not have gone back in time to stop them from meeting. The concept of time traveling is truly mind-boggling. As confusing as time traveling might seem, I still think that time travel is possible. The field of science particularly physics is constantly changing. Advances in technology and in research could eventually provide us with a better understanding of time travel and how to overcome those paradoxes.
Chelsie Alison O. Ty
2015-07282
STS THX
It’s amazing how the human mind works – how a single human being can use an idea and piece it together with another to form one phenomenal theory. It’s a fact that no one knows exactly how this world was made, what it consists of, detail by detail. But it’s like humans have this great need and thirst to prove, or even disprove, certain things that already exist. If someone says yes, another has the feeling of saying no for a particular reason. And it’s like we’re just never content with the idea of existing and being, and we have this innate desire to know and discover more. It just means that as time passes by, we will never get tired of finding and uncovering new things, and I think that makes life and the world we live in even more fascinating and interesting.
SUNGA, Ma. Yna Shiela C.
2015-01514
STS THX
‘What ifs’ have always sparked a flame in our human minds: “What if I could change yesterday?”, “What if there is a world that is the same yet different from ours?”, and so on.
Art, especially Science Fiction literature, have captivated us with notions of time travel and multiple worlds. Scientists try to prove or disprove these ideas, but as of now, there is no proof yet. But since science is characterized by advance, I don’t think that it is absolutely impossible for time travel and parallel universes to not exist. Personally, I believe that making the present and our lives in this world is more worthwhile. If you could really travel in time or move across parallel worlds, won’t the regret of the past and wonder of tomorrow be lost? Maybe we would be so caught up in making a ‘perfect’ moment, outcome, or universe by changing history or experimenting with choice, but then what?
Marian Nicole D. Vale
2015-02465
STS THX
Time Travel has always been an interesting concept especially to us humans for only we are conscious of the passage of time, a curse we all must bear for this knowledge comes the knowledge that inevitable when the time that we have runs out. This is why Time travel is so important to use because with this we allow ourselves the capability to manipulate the past and foresee the future, ultimately giving us control over which we have basically none. The light hearted take of Futurama on this topic shows us the consequence of going back in time and creating portals to different timelines. It is an interesting concept that will surely fascinate us all til the time comes that we actually pull it off
Fajardo, Aldrin
2012-35629
STS THY
There are so many contradictions and conflicting theories when it comes to Time Travel that, although it is an interesting topic to think about, trying to understand and make sense of it is difficult. But without such thought experiments, narratives, and explanations, TIme Travel wouldn’t be such an intriguing thing to think for many people. The Science Fiction of the past can possibly be the Reality of the future (just compare the communicators in Star Trek to our smartphones now). And I think that keeping minds and perspectives wholly open is the key to discovering knowledge that can turn horrible realities into nothing but fantasy.
DEL ROSARIO, Earl Roy E.
2015-08613
STS THY
Science has been portrayed in the arts and culture numerous times – from the 12 Doctors to the insides of a black hole in Interstellar. Science fiction art forms, most especially modern multimedia presentations such as film, bears a huge impact on the psyche of society as it raises speculation, aspiration, and fear. It gives society a depiction or picture of what science is and was, and what it can be. Recurring themes of sci-fi include time travel and the multiverse.
As cool as it may be, time travel and multiple universes still remain as speculations in modern science. According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, time only moves forwards. However, time is still relative. You can technically time travel to the future if you travel at a speed near to the speed of light due to the effects of time dilation, granted that you can survive a speed of almost 300 000 000 meters per second. On the other hand, the multiverse is somewhat trickier than the former because it almost has no empirical evidence. Nonetheless, since there is no solid evidence that proves nor disproves the speculation, it is still possible.
Today’s science might not have reached the height in which we could construct a TARDIS or a Starship Enterprise. However, we have accomplished many things that previous civilizations might have had deem as improbable or impossible. Science is still growing and evolving. What may be science fiction now might be common knowledge in the future. That is why science fiction is called the “literature of ideas”.
Terrence Ferdinand S. Nagaño
2015-04845
STS THX
Time travel and multiple worlds are two concepts that interest many people. The complexity of the theories about these two, however, hinders some people from understanding them fully. Fortunately, arts and culture are there to elucidate time travel and multiple worlds in a more fascinating and comprehensible way through stories in cartoons and in films. If you’re looking for a science fiction mystery thriller film about time traveling, you may watch “Predestination” written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig.
John Steven Magboo
2011-55727
STS THX
Time travel has always been an interesting topic to talk about. From its uncertainties to the limitless possibilities that we can do through it. But I think that having time machines wouldn’t be cool as we assume it, for it is a norm for a human to be self-centric, thus, having time machines will just presumably make one’s life perfectly the way he wants, making life boring, which is not a “life” at all.
Yzzabel Danganan
STS THY
2015-03634
The concepts of time travel and multiple worlds are very well received ideologies in our society. I mean who wouldn’t want to travel through time and have multiple words. It is for this precise reason that sci-fi is also well accepted. People living ordinary lives want something extraordinary to happen in their lives and sci-fi satisfies this need. Well, not literally but at least imaginatively. It is very interesting that what started as fiction now has some scientific basis to it. Advancements in science and technology have paved the way to the discovery of many things that were considered fiction before. I agree that nothing in science and technology is written in stone and it is this fact that makes science so incredible. It is ever changing and evolving. Though it may still be very long or even impossible to prove some of the theories proposed on the matter but something in me wishes that they can be proved and with it, the laws of science be rewritten.
Matthew Chua
2011-14753
One has just got to admire how the two seemingly different worlds of art and science can be fused together to introduce a vast array of knowledge to the general public. I believe that this is especially evident in pop culture during the past centuries. Futurama is a good example of how the complex themes of time travel and multiple worlds are usually injected with humor in order to still be engaging for audiences that belong to different fields. Another example I can think of is the TV series The Big Bang Theory wherein discussions revolving around theoretical physics are crafted in such a way that even people coming from an artistic background (like myself) can learn to appreciate the plethora of scientific musings and perceptions not commonly encountered. The prevalence of science and technology in art and culture is, in my opinion, a testimony of how the entirety of the human race share a similar desire to explore and comprehend the universe further.
Sy, Azl N.
2012-28637
STS THX
The idea of time travel piques everyone’s interest. Everyone has a kept thought that revolves around “what I could have done” and “what I shouldn’t have done”. Even before watching the Futurama episodes Roswell that Ends Well and Farnsworth(‘s) Paradox, I had been informed of the dangers of temporal displacement from some of the shows stated above and more.
Numerous media have presented themselves as warnings for the possibility of manipulating time.
In most where the concept of cause and effect is featured prominently as the protagonist travels back in time numerous times to perform different actions in an attempt to alter what has happened in the future, only to have new complications arise in the “new” futures. Often, for more trials done, the complications even worsen.
The idea behind “The Grandfather Paradox” is very interesting. A movie I watched had a similar paradoxical idea involved. It was “Predestination”, where the protagonist Jane grew up a hermaphrodite identified as a woman, who then becomes a man after she gives birth to a child she lost. Her man self went back in time and impregnates her past “woman” self (though not on purpose), and the child born becomes the newborn hermaphrodite baby Jane. I believe that the hermaphroditism was acquired as a complication from travelling in between time periods. So in the movie “Predestination”, Jane’s existence was one big loop (Unlike in Futurama where there was a different individual/generation involved— Fry’s father).
I’m actually not one with the idea of time travel. I would prefer for life to go naturally, without anyone disrupting the time frames. Time shouldn’t be manipulated like that. If something happens or fails to happen, then it is because of the mistakes man himself makes.
But who knows, there may be somebody practicing time travel already, without our knowing.
Pintor, John Paul S.
2015-04170
STS THX