By Jill Yesko , University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-5371
Posted 2-12-07
Dr. Ronald Mallett and a model time machine.
GREENSBORO, NC – The theory of time travel and the quest to build a time machine will be the subject of a lecture by Dr. Ronald L. Mallett, a professor of theoretical physics at the University of Connecticut who has used Einstein’s relativity equation to design a time machine.
The lecture will follow a viewing of the documentary “The World’s First Time Machine.” The film explores the problems and paradoxes of time travel and highlights Mallett’s work in developing a functional time machine.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Monday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Elliott University Center at UNCG. A book signing will be held in the UNCG book store after the lecture.
Mallett is the author of “Time Traveler: A Scientist’s Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality.” He was inspired to design a time machine after reading H.G Wells’ “The Time Machine” several months after his father’s death when he was 10. By designing a time machine, Mallett hoped to be able to see his father again.
Mallett’s time machine is a desktop-sized device that uses mirrors to circulate light beams to warp surrounding space. Because some subatomic particles have extremely short lifetimes, Mallett hopes to observe particles that may exist for a longer time than expected when placed in the vicinity of the circulating light beam. A longer lifetime means that the particles must have flowed through a time loop into the future.
One of the world’s premier African-American theoretical physicists, Mallett has published numerous papers on relativistic cosmology and black holes.
The event is co-sponsored by the African American Studies Program and the Department of Physics and Astronomy. For more information, contact Michael Cauthen in the African American Studies Program at (336) 334-4494, or mdcauthe@uncg.edu; or Dr. Steve Danford, head of the Physics and Astronomy Department at (336) 334-3308, or danford@uncg.edu.
