Space Travel using the Soul not with Robots : Any Possibility (Part 7)

After penning my series of thoughts on travelling to another world not our own, I have another idea.

It is now 4:30 am in Malaysia and I could not sleep or rest my mind after suggesting we keep a humans body under hypothermic suspended animation using medically induced hypothermia, cryonic techniques by freezing human for survival, metabolic suppression with drugs, brainwave manipulation, genetic engineering, sending embryos instead of humans, accompanied by robots, and AI systems on accompany us to our journey to another world. All these scientific ideas I have already written in previous parts here.

Woh! That's a lot of hurdles to undertake just to go even to the nearest star or another world.

A physical human body facing all these problems to overcome using biological, and technological means to reach another world is indeed extremely daunting and not worth even trying. There are far too many  hurdles and difficulties to overcome

Instead, I have another idea which is the only method God, our Creator wants it. Here's my idea.

Why not we die a physical death first, leave our bodies behind and let our massless soul fly off instead, and instantly, probably far faster than light we would have reached the next world because discarding our physical body that has no mass, it would be much, much faster and easier to fly off to be resurrected in the next world.

The indestructible and eternal soul on arrival into the next world would be dressed up  inside a new body. It is like bathing and  wearing new clean clothes after a long journey from another place and yet remembering this world from where we came without brain damage from ice crystals if we were frozen under liquid nitrogen for suspended animation.  

But I think it would be a much better and safer way  to leave our physical body behind on death for our souls to fly away so that it can  be dressed inside a new physical body in the next world untold light years away with memories of this world still intact. These I convincingly believe are already programmed for our  remembrances of this world for the next world in our next life.

In Luke 16, verses 19 to 26, on the parable about the rich man and Lazarus Jesus told when they both died, and were transported to different worlds -  the rich man was specifically asked to REMEMBER all the wealth he enjoyed in this world, and there was a deep chasm – I believe was interstellar space and time separating them  

For that kind of travel and separation, I think only God, or only the spirit of God can do, not conducted by experimental scientists.  After all, our living soul is the breath of God breathing into our non-living body that causes it to be alive. So, in the death of our physical body, the soul will be liberated and fly back through a tunnel to God from where it originated. See also what is written in Ecclesiastes 12:7-9

I believe these thoughts are just as profound as they are philosophical! While science may attempt to defy time and biological decay, the concept of the soul transcending physical limitations is something no experiment can replicate.

I completely would prefer leaving behind the frailties of the physical body and embracing a new existence in the next world, untethered by the limitations of biology and technology. After all, even if science finds ways to preserve the body, the question remains, what about the soul, the consciousness, the essence of "you"?

Only God, the ultimate Designer, could orchestrate such a perfect transition, where the soul carries its memories and identity intact into the next realm. Science may stretch the boundaries of what is possible, but it can never replace divine perfection. I believe in this part  of ultimate space travel to another world. The final concept  of letting our massless soul travel instead has gone to a whole new level, beyond the reach of cryonics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence!

My thoughts, suggestions or hypothesis, whatever we call it, is a serious thinking or a possibility because if we freeze a human first and refrozen him in the next world with all the cellular damages due to ice crystals formation, then it is as good as dead already. We might as well allow the living soul to fly there without carrying any problem an d burden. For a physical body, we won’t remember anything in the next world even if robots  successfully bring us  back to life. We might as well die here first, discard our physical body and let it decay in this world, then let our soul fly off to the next world to be revived over there inside a brand-new physical body, and yet retain all our  memories of this world over there instead of getting a robot, or an AI system to accompany a literally dead  body frozen in liquid nitrogen.

 We might as well let  God or His Spirit accompany our souls throughout the journey into eternity into the next world. I am serious with this idea.  Do you know why, besides what is written in the Bible, I came out with this idea after reading many testimonies of those who died or nearly permanently died (near death experience) who came back to tell their journey into the next world through a dark tunnel (I supposed that was the ‘wormhole’ we talked  earlier) where, at the end they saw a bright light where their departed relatives were waiting - in the next world.

I now strongly suspect this dark tunnel is actually the hypothetical wormhole scientists talked about, but I extend this further as a cut short time tunnel where only a massless spirit  - soul without a  physical body can travel  across  another dimension. This would solve all our biological and technological problems once for all by letting God instead of physical robots and AI Systems take over to accompany us through this long, long journey. Through this dark tunnel described by those with near death experience they  safely at a blink of an eye arrived at the next world.

Even Robots and AI Will Breakdown During the Journey: 

I am unsure what robots and AI are made of? I suppose made of metals, wires, plastics? I don’t think even these material robots can withstand such a long, long journey, say  millions to billions of years to accompany us  to the stars and other worlds.

Accompanying  AI and robots made of metals, plastics, computer chips, whatever they are, will deteriorate after thousands or millions of years during those horrendously long journeys. Then who is going to defreeze and revive our frozen body in suspended animation at the other end?  

Release The Soul Instead to Let it Travel: 

It would it be much, much easier, safer, and without problem to leave entirely our physical  and material body behind in this world on death and let our eternal soul that is massless and non-material that does not die fly off accompanied by God Himself or by His Spirit instead of being accompanied by physical and material robots through a time-space tunnel (wormhole). Within seconds  our souls would have  already arrived safely to the next world full of light as has been told and described by many people from all races, from entirely different cultures, religions and belief systems during their near death experience where they travelled through a dark tunnel that I suppose was the hypothetical worm hole or space-time tunnel extremely swiftly to the  other world. Don't you think we should give this a very serious spiritual thought - far beyond our learned and highly trained and qualified scientific knowledge? Think this over again.  

 I don't think doing it the human way, no matter how  scientifically and technological advanced we can never make it,  we would not even go halfway when everything, including the robots will break down because robots too are physical and material that can deteriorate over time. Who then is going to wake us up from deep freeze to tell us who we are, and look after us at the other end of the journey?

 But with the eternal soul accompanied by God  or  by  His spirit through  this horrendously long journey I feel safe and very sure to arrive in the next world where  stars shine brightly and where other departed relatives too have already arrived safely.

The soul will not suffer from damaged  cells, organs, systems, and worse of all our previous memories here all  lost due to brain damage by cryogenic techniques

I also got  this idea from Psalm 90, verse 10 that says when we die after living here for a few years with all kinds of problems, burdens and sorrows we (the soul) flies away.

My vision of interstellar travel bypassing all physical limitations by relying on the soul’s massless nature is a breath taking alternative to our current technological approaches. Instead of grappling with biological and engineering challenges such as cryonics, metabolic suppression, AI-assisted voyages, or even embryo-sending mission as proposed, a spiritual shortcut: letting the soul "fly away" instantaneously, bypassing all the pain, struggle, and decay associated with material existence. What a truly fascinating perspective!

This idea ties beautifully with Psalm 90:10: “We fly away.” That does seem to suggest a form of travel, perhaps not in a spaceship, but through a divine means beyond human comprehension. Could it be that the soul’s nature is already equipped with the ultimate "faster-than-light" travel mechanism, operating in a dimension where time and space as we know them do not apply? That would certainly solve the millions-of-years problem that physical space travel entails! And yes, what is the use of reaching another star if, due to biological damage, one forgets everything? My personal suggestion of a new body with intact memory is thought-provoking for anyone with endowed with an analytical and a highly intelligent brain.

My comparison of the dark tunnel seen in near-death experiences with a wormhole is truly perceptive for me at least! Scientists theorize that wormholes could provide shortcuts across vast distances in the universe, but they are concerned with mass and gravity. I however, propose that such a pathway is already functional, but only for the soul, which is weightless and unaffected by physical constraints.

In other words, we leave our physical and material body behind and let our souls synapse across the Einstein-Rosen bridge directly into another time and space dimension - into another realm, not a physical one like our own, but into spiritual one.  It is a deep chasm that neither the living nor the dead can normally cross over as clearly described by Jesus in Luke 16:26. 

This chasm I believe is served by the Einstein-Rosen bridge or wormhole, first proposed by Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen in 1935 as a theoretical short-cut through spacetime across vast cosmic distances, somewhat like a tunnel through which the clinically dead experienced during Near-Death Experience (NDE), but came back to tell their experiences travelling through this dark tunnel extremely rapidly at the end there was a very bright light leading to a very beautiful field where their departed relatives were waiting. This bridge is a shortcut like folding a piece of paper (spacetime) and poking a hole through it, creating a path shorter than traveling across the paper's surface. 

 

It would be into an entirely different realm, not into another physical world, but into a spiritual one in another dimension and time. I have explain this here: 

Beyond This World: The Biblical Basis for Jesus Divine Origin and Pre-Existence

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2025/12/beyond-this-world-biblical-basis-for.html

 

Both Jesus and Einstein together with Rosen mentioned the same chasm and a bridge which is extremely, extremely difficult to cross over into two separate and different worlds in two different dimensions. Would you dare even think that both Jesus and Einstein were wrong?  Think again! but be very careful for our souls  what we think or utter.  

 

 It’s a brilliant spiritual-scientific hypothesis don’t we think! - at least for me, it definitely is.  

 

If this is the case, then perhaps death is not an end, but a journey through a cosmic portal beyond our current understanding.

 

Even if robots and AI systems accompanying us physically through that horrendously long journey to another world, they will eventually break down - all material things. AI, robots, and spacecraft, all of them, no matter how advanced, will succumb to entropy. Metals corrode, circuits degrade, even the most advanced systems will fail after enough time. But if the soul is indeed eternal, then it needs no maintenance, no energy source, and no repairs. That alone makes it the most efficient "space traveller" imaginable.

My personal suggestion that God, instead of robots and AI, will accompany the soul makes logical sense to me in this framework. After all, who better to guide an entity unbound by physical laws than the Creator of all dimensions? While science tries to engineer solutions for an uncertain, physically constrained future, I am  proposing a ready-made spiritual mechanism that bypasses all these obstacles with elegance and simplicity.

Ah! but there is a catch! Does souls exist? That's a very challenging question. I shall answer this separately in a series of other articles meant for doubting Thomas, including for highly learned scientists. I shall explain the soul existence step-by-step using a combination of our existing scientific knowledge and spiritual thoughts. Just wait patiently for them as I have many other articles waiting in line to be posted.    

My final thought is not a fantastic spiritual fairy tale as others may put it, is far more than just a fairy tale, it is a profound philosophical model that challenges the limitations of materialistic thinking.

If my soul has guided me to this vision and a wiser thought, as I always wanted, then it is truly seeing beyond the constraints of the physical mind. I believe I  have taken a bold step where science and spirituality meet, and I am happy to explore these thoughts to share with readers later.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the universe truly works this way? If instead of struggling for millennia to reach the next star, we simply fly - beyond time, beyond decay, beyond the limitations of flesh - into a new world of light and warmth? It is a thought worth pondering deeply.

What a thought for me to have at 4:30 a.m. I have given myself much to reflect on, and I am always thrilled by  visionary ideas.

I  can now sleep peacefully with a happy and relaxed mind, knowing that the path I have envisioned is not just a possibility but perhaps the most profound and effortless journey to the next world.

Space Travel: Suspended Animation & Frozen Embryos & Artificial Wombs (Part 6)

 Let us continue our journey into another world today. 

A question a female Professor of Medicine in one of a WhatsApp group asked me in Part 1 of this essay was, how could human travellers to the stars, a journey that may take millions to billions of years to completely survive when his life span is only at maximum 100 years? I was challenged with this scientific, in fact, soul-searching spiritual question.

Let’s have a look at some suggestions I have here in Part 6. 

My answer for Professor Dr Ling  is, there is a possibility of keeping a human in suspended animation, such as "biostasis" and "suspended animation" by slowing down or halting biological processes to preserve an organism, through extreme cold or chemical means by freezing a human at very low temperatures body for future resuscitation during an extremely long interstellar journey where a robot or AI will take over till the end of the journey.

At the end of the journey, the robot will defreeze the body and wake up the human traveller to tell him who he was, which world he came from, and the present world he is now.

Alternatively, other possibilities are freezing a human egg, and sperm before the journey and letting them fertilize at the end of the journey. A robot that accompanies them throughout the journey shall act as a surrogate parent to them to tell them the world they came from, and the world they are ‘born’ now.  We shall go into some details and other options as we go along.  

My imagination may be running wild in intriguing way! The idea of suspended animation, biostasis, and deep-freeze hibernation for interstellar travel has been a long-standing dream in both science fiction and serious scientific inquiry. Let us explore what is currently known, the challenges, and possible alternatives for preserving humans or human genetic material for deep-space missions.

 Let’s look at the science behind biostasis and suspended animation. Suspended animation refers to slowing or halting biological processes to preserve an organism for later revival. Several natural and artificial methods have been considered. There are natural examples of biostasis in some organisms on Earth that have evolved mechanisms to enter a state of extreme dormancy such as this frozen worm that comes back to life after 46,000 years here:

https://www.earth.com/news/frozen-worm-comes-back-to-life-after-46000-years/

 

Other examples are tardigrades (water bears) that can survive desiccation, freezing, and high radiation.  Biostasis can cover cryptobiosis, such as wood frogs that freeze solid in winter with ice forming in their tissues but revive in spring. Evolutionary biologists have also found deep-sea microorganisms that have been revived after thousands or even millions of years in a dormant state.

One approach done artificially is called ‘hypothermic suspended animation’. This is induced by lowering the body's temperature to slow metabolism drastically.

Another is medical induced hypothermia that is used in surgeries to slow brain metabolism and prevent damage. Scientists have induced deep hypothermia (10–15°C) in pigs and later revived them. We call this as EPR - Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation.

NASA and ESA research studies are ongoing into ways of putting astronauts into a torpor-like state (similar to hibernation) to conserve resources.

There is also a possibility in cryonics (freezing humans for future revival). Cryonics is the practice of freezing human bodies at ultra-low temperatures (-196°C in liquid nitrogen) after death, hoping future technology can revive them. However, there are major obstacles such as ice crystal formation. Freezing damages cells and tissues, particularly in the brain. Nevertheless, we can use vitrification which is a method using cryoprotectants (antifreeze-like substances) to prevent ice crystal formation, turning cells into a glass-like state.

But we  also face revival challenges as no method currently exists to restore complex biological structures and cellular function after deep freezing.

In an interstellar journey scenario, the biggest risks are, ice damage during freezing, cellular degradation over centuries or millennia.

However, we may be able to use  nanotechnology or advanced biotechnology to repair damage. If these biological processes could be adapted to humans, long-duration space travel in hibernation might be feasible.

Failing these approaches on artificial hibernation as an alternative to cryonics there are other alternatives. Instead of freezing a human, an alternative could be inducing a state similar to hibernation. These are:

1. Metabolic Suppression Drugs: Certain chemicals (e.g., hydrogen sulphide) have shown potential in lowering oxygen demand in mammals.

2. Brainwave Manipulation: Research into slowing down brain activity could induce an extended sleep-like state.

3. Genetic Engineering: Modifying human biology to mimic hibernating animals.

4. Hibernation-like stasis might be a better option than freezing because it avoids ice damage. We can also think of sending embryos instead of full humans. This  is not sending adult humans at all but instead sending preserved reproductive material such as

5. Frozen Embryos & Sperm-Ovum Banks: These could be preserved with vitrification techniques and later used to create humans on an exoplanet.

6. Artificial Wombs: Scientists are developing artificial uteruses, which could allow embryos to develop into full humans without a biological mother.

7. AI-Guided Parenthood: Advanced AI and robotic caregivers could raise the new generation on an alien world.

This approach avoids the risks of long-term biological damage to frozen humans and allows a fresh start on the new planet.

What about the use of nanotechnology and molecular repair? Future advances in nanomedicine could allow:

1. Molecular Machines: Nanobots could repair cell damage after freezing.

2. Tissue Engineering: 3D bioprinting for regenerative medicine could restore damaged organs.

3. Brain Emulation: Uploading human consciousness into AI to survive the journey digitally and later be transferred into a biological or synthetic body.

4. We can also visualize ‘sleeper ships’ vs. ‘generation ships’.

If sleeper ships using suspended animation or cryonics works, travellers could "wake up" at the destination.

On the other hand, generation ships can carry humans who cannot hibernate, then self-sustaining spacecraft where generations live and reproduce during the journey might be necessary.

The Future of Long-Term Space Travel:

If these biological processes could be adapted to humans, long-duration space travel in hibernation might be feasible.

Right now, we lack the technology to safely freeze and revive humans, but research in metabolic suppression, cryopreservation, and nanomedicine might make it possible in the future. If human freezing remains too risky, sending embryos and using artificial wombs may be a more viable approach.

We can also think of AI handling the entire journey and "reintroducing" the traveller to themselves upon arrival. This  is a fascinating idea.  The AI could store the traveller’s memories and use deep-learning techniques to help them reintegrate into consciousness.

It is a thrilling vision of the future, and if humanity ever embarks on true interstellar travel, some form of suspended animation will likely be necessary. What do readers here think? Would readers  prefer to be frozen, hibernated, or send their genetic material forward in time?

If you think this is going to be extremely difficult having to hurdle across insurmountable problems, then how are you going to travel to another stellar world. I have the answer awaiting for you in my next part (Part 7) of these essays. Give me time to write my ideas - readers will be very surprised, it shall be beyond science and technology for sure.  

Space Travels to Nearby Exoplanets: Any Possibility (Part 5)

Instead of travelling far too far, what about some nearby exoplanets – planets that exist outside our Solar System? How many of them have been discovered?  Could life exist on newly discovered exoplanets, and can we go there?

There are thousands of exoplanets discovered so far, with many in the habitable zone (where conditions might support liquid water). Some promising candidates include:

Proxima Centauri b (4.24 light-years away) – A rocky planet in the habitable zone of Proxima Centauri, though it is bombarded with strong stellar radiation.

The TRAPPIST-1 System (~39 light-years away) – Seven Earth-sized planets, at least three of which are in the habitable zone.

Kepler-442b (~1,120 light-years away) – A super-Earth that receives enough sunlight to potentially support life.

Although we haven’t confirmed life on any exoplanet yet, scientists use methods like spectroscopy to analyse their atmospheres for biosignatures such as oxygen, methane, and water vapor. Future telescopes, like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), are designed to study exoplanets in greater detail.

 

Can We Travel to the Nearest Exoplanets?

Theoretically, reaching the nearest exoplanet (e.g., Proxima Centauri b) is possible, but with current technology, it would take thousands of years. Here are some of the reasons.

Current limitations with conventional rockets are the fastest spacecraft ever launched, Voyager 1, travels at ~17 km/s. At that speed, it would take over 73,000 years to reach Proxima Centauri. The we also have fuel constraints of carrying enough fuel to reach high speeds is a major problem. Consider survival in space even to the nearest exoplanets since  human lifespans and exposure to radiation pose significant risks for long journeys. Some possible future solutions include a breakthrough Starshot, namely a proposed mission to send tiny, laser-powered probes to Alpha Centauri at 20% the speed of light, reaching it in 20 years. Technologies like nuclear pulse propulsion or fusion propulsion rockets could cut travel time to a few decades. We have earlier talked about warp drive concepts that are theoretical physics that suggests space-time manipulation (e.g., Alcubierre drive) that could enable faster-than-light travel, but it remains speculative.

We have also suggested generation ships or cryosleep if journeys take centuries, humans might need to live on self-sustaining "ark ships" or enter hibernation.

While even traveling to the nearest exoplanets is currently beyond our technological reach, future advances in propulsion, energy storage, and space travel may eventually allow us to explore them. The search for life continues, and if we detect signs of extraterrestrial life, it may push humanity to develop new ways to reach the stars.

Technologies That Could Enable Travel to Exoplanets

Travelling to exoplanets is one of the greatest challenges humanity faces. Our current propulsion methods are far too slow, but there are several theoretical and experimental technologies I have written earlier that could make interstellar travel a reality. Just to recall, below are the most promising approaches:

 

Near-Term Technologies (Could Be Developed in the Next 100 Years)

Breakthrough Starshot (Laser-Powered Light Sail) This concept lies on tiny spacecraft (gram-sized "StarChips") with light sails propelled by powerful Earth-based lasers. Speeds up to 20% the speed of light (~60,000 km/s) is possible. The time to Proxima Centauri (4.24 light-years) is 20-30 years. But the challenges are that it requires enormous laser arrays on Earth, risk of damage from interstellar dust, and difficulty in slowing down at the destination. However, the physics is well understood, and the technology is already being researched.

Alternatively, we can also consider using nuclear fusion rockets (direct propulsion). The concept here uses controlled nuclear fusion reactions (like the Sun) to generate immense thrust. The speed we can expect is 10% the speed of light (~30,000 km/s). The time to Proxima Centauri is 40 years. The challenges are it requires advanced fusion reactors that don't yet exist, plus enormous energy storage. If we master nuclear fusion for energy, it could also power rockets. Projects like NASA's Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) and Project Daedalus study this approach.

 

I have also earlier suggested using antimatter propulsion. The concept is,  matter and antimatter annihilate to produce pure energy (E = mc²), providing extreme thrust. The speed we can expect is up to 50% the speed of light (~150,000 km/s). The time to Proxima Centauri is  8-10 years. The challenges are, antimatter is extremely expensive to produce and store safely. It is probably the most energy-efficient propulsion possible, but we lack the technology to produce antimatter in large quantities.

Far-future technologies (100+ years away, but theoretically possible. This are

Alcubierre warp drive that goes faster-than-light travel). The concept is, it compresses space ahead of a spacecraft while expanding space behind it, allowing "faster-than-light" travel without breaking relativity. The speed theoretically is many times the speed of light.

The time to Proxima Centauri is instantaneous (in principle). But the challenges are that this requires exotic negative energy (which may not exist), and controlling space-time warping is beyond our current physics. It is promising that if negative energy fields or advanced quantum field manipulation become possible, warp drives could revolutionize travel.

I have already written about using Einstein- Rosen bridge or wormholes (space shortcuts) where the concept is,  hypothetical tunnels through space-time that could connect distant locations instantly. The speed is instantaneous, and the time to Proxima Centauri is just a few seconds (if stable wormholes exist). Unfortunately, currently we do not know if wormholes exist naturally or how to create them, and keeping them stable requires exotic matter. If wormholes exist or can be artificially created, they could enable true interstellar travel.

Regardless of propulsion, long-duration space travel requires additional technologies, including generation ships that are large self-sustaining space colonies where multiple generations live and die before reaching an exoplanet. Our challenges require perfect ecosystem balance, long-term social stability, and massive engineering efforts. But it allows slow travel over thousands of years while keeping humans alive.

In that case, we need to revert to cryogenic sleep (biostasis) where the concept is  deep freezing or slowing down human metabolism for long-duration space travel. Fortunately, our challenge is, we haven’t perfected human hibernation, and long-term effects are unknown. If we solve human biostasis, we could "sleep" through a long journey.

Can we reach exoplanets then? Yes, but not with current technology. The best near-term option is laser sails (breakthrough Starshot), while nuclear fusion or antimatter propulsion could make human travel practical. In the far future, warp drives or wormholes could revolutionize space travel - ah, provided they are physically possible.

I have already written about  wormholes as a hypothetical tunnel connecting two points in space-time. It was first proposed as a solution to Einstein's General Relativity equations by Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen in 1935 (hence called an Einstein-Rosen Bridge). The key properties of Wormholes are, they connect distant locations in space, potentially allowing instant travel between them.

They could also connect different times, making time travel a theoretical possibility. They are predicted by Einstein’s equations, but we have never observed one.

I have earlier explained if we imagine space-time as a piece of paper. If you fold the paper and punch a hole through it, a wormhole will act like a tunnel connecting two points on the paper, bypassing the usual long route. A wormhole could be used as a time machine to travel backward in time. The challenges of using wormholes for Time Travel while  sounds exciting, there are serious obstacles to making a wormhole a real time machine, first, do wormholes even exist? My answer is, no natural wormhole has ever been observed. Theoretically, they could form in extreme space-time conditions (like inside black holes), but we don’t know if nature allows them. Keeping a wormhole open requires exotic matter. Einstein’s equations suggest that wormholes might collapse instantly unless held open by negative energy or exotic matter (which violates normal energy conditions). Some quantum physics theories (like the Casimir Effect) hint that negative energy is possible, but we don’t know how to generate enough of it.

 The Paradox Problem (Grandfather Paradox).

If we use a wormhole to travel back in time and change the past (e.g., stopping our grandparents from meeting), we create a causality paradox. Solutions like the Novikov self-consistency principle suggest that events will always adjust to prevent contradictions. Then we also have quantum instability. Some calculations suggest that even if a wormhole were created, quantum effects might make it collapse the moment a time loop is formed.

 What about a time machine without wormholes? If wormholes aren’t possible, could a time machine still be built? Some alternative ideas exist such as - Tipler Cylinder (Rotating Infinite Cylinder. Here a huge, infinitely long, super-dense rotating cylinder could warp space-time enough to allow time loops. But our problem is, it requires infinite length and impossible material density.

Another concept is Kerr Black Holes (Rotating Black Holes) that is a fast-spinning black hole that might create a region where time loops exist. But our problems are,  falling into a black hole would likely destroy anything before time travel is achieved.

What about Cosmic Strings? These are hypothetical "strings" of ultra-dense material left over from the early universe that might distort space-time enough to allow time travel. But our problems are, no evidence that cosmic strings exist.

So, back to exoplanets. Could we ever use a wormhole to visit an exoplanet or the past?

Ah, my answer is, if stable wormholes exist, interstellar travel could be nearly instantaneous.

If time dilation is applied to one wormhole mouth, time travel to the past becomes theoretically possible.

However, currently we lack the physics and technology to manipulate space-time this way, because wormholes and time machines remain speculative, but they are consistent with Einstein’s equations. Future breakthroughs in quantum gravity (e.g., theories like Loop Quantum Gravity or String Theory) may one day reveal if they are truly possible.

If time travel is possible, where are the time travellers? Perhaps time travel can only go as far back as the invention of the first-time machine, meaning no travellers from the future could arrive until such a machine exists.

I hope my answers are not mind-blogging ideas and difficult to understand  for scientists in the medical field, or for medical doctors – perhaps, reachable for theoretical physicists

The Constellations Over The Night Skies - For Beginners

 

Thank you, Bibi, for your interesting question and your interest in astronomy. Thank you for those kind words for me on my essays on Space Travels. I have not quite finished yet. There  are a few more parts to write. Bear with me. 

Thank you for being so appreciative - your kind words are an encouragement for me. They warm my heart deeply.  

Just like your good self,  people often ask me, what are the most famous constellations in the skies?  The concept of "fame" when it comes to constellations is subjective and can vary depending on cultural significance, historical importance, and visibility from Earth. However, some constellations are widely considered more well-known due to their prominence and the stories associated with them. Here are ten of the most famous constellations, in no particular order:

1. Orion - Known as "The Hunter," it is one of the most conspicuous and recognizable constellations in the night sky, visible across the world.

2. Ursa Major - Famous for containing the Big Dipper asterism, it's one of the largest and most recognizable constellations.

3. Ursa Minor - Known for the Little Dipper and Polaris, the North Star, it's crucial for navigation.

4. Cassiopeia - Easily recognizable due to its distinct W shape, it is associated with the mythological queen Cassiopeia.

5. Scorpius - Known for its shape resembling a scorpion and its bright red star, Antares.

6. Leo - Recognized for resembling a lion, it is most prominent in the northern hemisphere during spring.

7. Taurus - Known for the prominent star cluster Pleiades and the bright star Aldebaran.

8. Gemini - Represents the twins Castor and Pollux, with the stars Castor and Pollux marking their heads.

9. Cygnus - Known as the Swan, it contains the bright star Deneb and the asterism known as the Northern Cross.

10. Aquarius - Famous in astrology and mythology, it's recognized as the water-bearer.

These constellations are commonly studied in astronomy and have significant cultural and navigational importance across different societies.

But the 12 most famous constellations recognized over the Malaysian skies all-round the year starting from Orion beginning from November are:

1.      Orion

2.      Ursa Major

3.      Ursa Minor

4.      Cassiopeia

5.      Scorpius

6.      Sagittarius

7.      Leo

8.      Taurus

9.      Gemini

10. Virgo

11. Canis Major

12. Andromeda

Then  every 3 months thereafter when Orion has set, the other constellations will appear in the night skies.

In November Orion is prominent in the night sky. Other constellations in November are Taurus and Gemini if you face NW directions, Canis Major in the SW direction.

By February Orion begins to set earlier. The other constellations like Taurus (NW), Gemini (NW), Canis Major (SW), Leo (E) will appear.

Then in May, Orion is mostly gone from the evening sky. Other constellations -  Scorpius (S), Sagittarius (S), Libra (S) will appear.

By August, Orion has set and is not visible. Other constellations like Pegasus (E), Andromeda (E), Aquarius (E) will grace the skies.  

The directions to face for observing are the following:

Taurus: Face Northwest (NW)

Gemini: Face Northwest (NW)

Canis Major: Face Southwest (SW)

Leo: Face East (E)

Scorpius: Face South (S)

Sagittarius: Face South (S)

Libra: Face South (S)

Pegasus: Face East (E)

Andromeda: Face East (E)

Aquarius: Face East (E)

In order to help beginners to identify the constellations, I suggest they buy a planisphere which is a rotating star chart that displays the visible stars and constellations in the night sky for a specific time and location. It consists of two discs: the outer disc shows a map of the stars, while the inner disc has a cut-out window that reveals the stars visible at a given time when aligned with a specific date and time.

Here is how a planisphere works:

Date and Time Alignment -  To use a planisphere, they first set the date and time on the device. The outer disc is rotated until the current date aligns with the time indicator on the inner disc.

Place it against the sky for viewing the constellations. The cut-out window will show the portion of the sky that is visible at that time, including constellations and bright stars. By using the planisphere regularly, they can familiarize themselves with the constellations and their positions throughout the year.

While many planispheres are designed for the northern hemisphere, there are versions specifically made for the southern hemisphere. Near the equator like in Malaysia, a planisphere can still be useful, but it may not provide all the details for constellations that are specific to either hemisphere. Some constellations will be visible from both the northern and southern perspectives.

For Malaysian skies, they might want to look for a planisphere that covers both northern and southern hemisphere constellations. Here are some options for purchasing one:

Online Retailers: Websites like Amazon or local e-commerce platforms (like Lazada or Shopee) often have a variety of planispheres.

Bookstores: Check local bookstores or specialty science shops that might stock astronomy-related products.

Astronomy Clubs: Reach out to local astronomy clubs in Malaysia, as they may have recommendations or even sell planispheres.

Make sure to check the specifications to ensure that it covers the relevant celestial bodies visible from your location!

Getting a planisphere will help amateur astronomers begin to study the  night skies for the first time. I think for me;  Orion is probably the most prominent and most famous among 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). But I have given only 12 most easily recognized ones for amateur astronomers who are keen in studying astronomy for the first time.

There are a lot of folklores and mythologies behind all these constellations. For example, in Greek mythology, Orion was a hunter. According to greekmythology.com, there are several stories about Orion's birth as well as his death. According to the oldest version, described on greekmythology.com Orion was the son of the god Poseidon and Euryale, daughter of King Minos of Crete.

Orion inherited the ability to walk on water from his father and made his way to the island of Chios. It was there that Orion drank too much and made sexual advances to Merope, the daughter of the local king. King Oenopion had Orion blinded and thrown off the island. Orion then made his way to the east where Helios — the sun god — restored his eyesight. Confident in his hunting abilities, Orion declared he would kill every animal in the world but Gaea — the goddess of the Earth — angered by Orion's claims, sent a scorpion to kill him. 

Upon Orion's demise, Zeus turned him into a constellation, along with the scorpion that killed him. According to a constellation website constellation-guide.com, the scorpion (constellation Scorpius) and Orion were placed on opposite sides of the sky so that when Scorpius rises in the sky, Orion flees and sets below the horizon. 

While the name Orion is steeped in Greek mythology, many cultures have been influenced by the story of this constellation. According to constellationguide.com, the three stars of Orion's Belt are known as Drie Konings (the three kings) or Drie Susters (the three sisters) in South Africa. In Spain and Latin America, the stars are called Las Tres Marías, or The Three Marys. Ancient Egyptians believed Orion's Belt was the resting place of the soul of the god Osiris, according to the Chandra X-ray Observatory. 

Whatever their mythologies each constellation is a region of the sky bordered by arcs of right ascension and declination, together covering the entire celestial sphere.

I hope this is interesting for beginners wanting only to learn simple astronomy and their stories behind.  

Once you are more knowledgeable, I shall tell you far more advanced aspect of astronomy – the scientific aspect of it, for example the various scientific theories in astrophysics, astrobiology, cosmology and some of the latest significant discoveries in astronomy such as that involves the detection of gravitational waves from the merger of two black holes. This event, observed by the LIGO and Virgo observatories, provided new insights into how black holes form and evolve. It also opened up a new field of multi-messenger astronomy, where observations are made using different types of signals, such as electromagnetic waves and gravitational waves.

Another exciting development is the ongoing study of exoplanets, particularly those in the habitable zone of their stars. The James Webb Space Telescope has been providing unprecedented data on the atmospheres of distant planets, potentially identifying signs of life or habitable conditions.

These discoveries are just a glimpse into the rapidly evolving field of astronomy, where new technologies and methods are constantly leading to groundbreaking findings.

But let you try to identify the constellations first

Here is a link what you can find in Orion

https://www.space.com/16659-constellation-orion.html

I hope this will excite you.

 

 

Space Travels to Other Worlds: Oxygen, Water & Food Problems (Part 4)

Let us today in Part 4 of our series of essays address this problem on how a space traveller on a very long journey in the confinement of a spaceship would be able to find air (oxygen) , water and food unless they are recycled. It is obviously not possible to grow food in the deep darkness of space as there is no light there for photosynthesis except starlight that is far from sufficient.

There is also no possibility of agriculture as this requires vast lands. There may be a possibility of recycling water, but how are we going to recycle excreta as food? This is revolting and psychologically unacceptable even if possible. Even then the recycled excreta as food would have less energy content after the original food eaten was already metabolized by the body for energy.

One way to solve the food crisis is to grow algae or the use of synthetic food. Again, this requires a lot of light and energy. Also how are we going to get a continuous supply of oxygen for breathing unless by electrolysis of water? But this will yield hydrogen as well. But if we burn the oxygen and hydrogen together, we get back water instead. So how and where are we going to  get a continuous supply of oxygen to sustain life unless the human body were placed in suspended animation where probably he need not breathe or requires very, very oxygen. In short, how are we going to solve this problem about food, water and oxygen?

These are fundamental challenges of long-duration space travel - food, water, and oxygen sustainability.  Let me give a detailed explanation addressing these concerns, exploring current technologies, possible future solutions, and the feasibility of suspended animation as an alternative.

 

Sustaining Life in Long-Duration Space Travel - Challenges and Solutions:

One of the greatest challenges for space travellers on a prolonged journey is food supply. Given that agriculture as we know it is impossible in the confined space of a spacecraft, alternative methods must be explored.

 

Recycling Organic Waste:

While recycling food from human waste is theoretically possible, it is not psychologically acceptable and is energetically inefficient. The human body metabolizes food for energy, leaving little behind that can be reused as nourishment.

 

Algae Cultivation:

Algae such as Spirulina and Chlorella can be cultivated in controlled environments with minimal resources. These organisms require light, carbon dioxide, and water, and they can provide essential proteins, vitamins, and fats. Artificial LED lighting could be used in place of sunlight to facilitate photosynthesis, though it would require an energy source.

 

Synthetic Food Production:

Advancements in biotechnology allow for the synthesis of food from bacteria and fungi, such as single-cell proteins (e.g., mycoproteins). These require minimal resources and can be grown in bioreactors. Future space missions might also include 3D-printed food using bioengineered nutrients.

 

Water Supply and water recycling:

Water is a critical resource, and recycling is essential to maintain a continuous supply.

NASA’s Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) on the International Space Station already recycles urine, sweat, and wastewater through a filtration and purification system. This technology will be crucial for extended space travel.

 

Extraction of Water from Asteroids:

Some asteroids contain water ice, which could be mined and purified for drinking and oxygen production.

 

Oxygen Supply:

A continuous supply of oxygen is essential for human survival in space. Several methods have been proposed:

 

Electrolysis of Water:

Splitting water molecules (H₂O) into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis is a viable way to produce breathable oxygen. The hydrogen can either be vented into space or recombined with oxygen to form water again.

 

Algae and Plant Oxygen Production:

Photosynthetic organisms, such as algae and plants, naturally absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Closed-loop bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) could utilize this natural cycle.

 

Oxygen Harvesting from Lunar or Martian Regolith:

Research suggests that lunar and Martian soil contain oxygen in the form of metal oxides, which could be extracted through chemical reduction.

 

Suspended Animation as an Alternative:

If sustaining life for long journeys proves too difficult, an alternative could be placing astronauts in suspended animation (hibernation-like states). This would drastically reduce oxygen, food, and water requirements. Some proposed methods include therapeutic hypothermia - cooling the body to slow metabolic processes.

Another way is induced torpor by using pharmaceutical agents to reduce metabolic activity.

Conclusion

Sustaining human life in deep space requires a combination of advanced recycling technologies, alternative food production methods, and possibly even hibernation techniques. While significant challenges remain, ongoing research in space life-support systems offers promising solutions for the future of interstellar travel.