The Physics of FTL Travel (Narration Only) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 18, 2026 · 40 MIN

The Physics of FTL Travel (Narration Only)

from Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur

Can humanity ever travel faster than light, or does every shortcut through spacetime break causality itself? We explore warp drives, wormholes, tachyons, and why the universe pushes back.Get Nebula using my link for 50% off an annual subscription: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthurWatch my exclusive video Nearby Supernovae: https://nebula.tv/videos/isaacarthur-nearby-supernovae-could-one-destroy-earth-and-could-we-stop-it🛒 SFIA Merchandise: https://isaac-arthur-shop.fourthwall.com/🌐 Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net❤️ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/IsaacArthur⭐ Support us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-arthur👥 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583992725237264/📣 Reddit Community: https://www.reddit.com/r/IsaacArthur/🐦 Follow on Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/Isaac_A_Arthur💬 SFIA Discord Server: https://discord.gg/53GAShECredits:The Physics of FTL TravelWritten, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac ArthurEditor: Lukas KonecnyMusic Courtesy of Stellardrone & Chris Zabriskie Select imagery/video supplied by Getty ImagesChapters0:00 Intro0:12 Faster Than Light Is the Wrong Question4:18 Spacetime Engineering: Moving the Map Instead of the Ship5:24 Warp Drives: Surfing Spacetime11:46 Wormholes: Shortcuts with a Side of Time Travel13:20 Hyperspace: Shortcuts Through the Bulk15:11 Solitons: The Positive Energy Challenge17:35 The Krasnikov Tube: Building a Star-Road20:30 Natural Relativistic Loopholes: Cosmic Strings and Tipler Cylinders25:05 Tachyons: The Simplest Way to Break Time28:04 Vacuum & Time-Advance Effects: When Causality Bends, Just a Little32:19 Quantum Red Herrings35:42 Nebula36:54 Why the Universe Pushes Back: Chronology Protection and Self-Defeating PhysicsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Could we ever go faster than light? We examine warp drives, wormholes, hyperspace, tachyons, and the deep physics protecting causality.

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