PHYSICS IN DARK SERIES

Dark is a Netflix original German web series. It is aired as a trilogy consisting of three seasons. Well executed storyline based on the concept of time travel made it one of the most rated web series across the globe. Though most of the incidents happening in the series are fictional, it is damn sure that creators had work well to present them in much more scientifically correct. Let’s check out the scientific concepts which are shown in various episodes of Dark and examine how much those are stand together with the reality.

Time travel

Time travel become a hot topic among the fiction writers. Even before it was theoretically proven it appears as a main plot in several books since 19^th century. In Dark, there are several ways that characters do time travel. Some characters use a device inside a suitcase to jump 33 years back and forth. Another one is the Higgs particle activated-time machine in the Nuclear power plant and the one at the Sic Mundus Headquarters. This allows one to travel to any time as he wish. Third one is the cave portal which allows jumping to 33, 66 years backward. Last one is the Ball like one which not only allows to jump through time but also between worlds.

When we debate with someone about the possibility of time travel we must agree that travelling backwards through time is scientifically impossible. This is because the theories constructed by our scientists does not allow time travel to the past. Yet the time travel to future is possible as per Special and General theory of relativity. But keep in mind that there is no return after travelling to the future. So, the core subject in the series itself is impossible.

Worm hole

Worm hole makes another character in Dark. There is a worm hole present inside the cave which is built by Sic mundus for travelling to 33 and 66 years backward. So, what is a worm hole actually? Space and time are interconnected and exists together. When space is deformed, it also affects time. Wormhole is a result of this warping of space-time. In result it is a passage from one space-time to another space-time. In Dark the worm hole inside the cave is designed to travel to 33/66 year backwards (also return). Here the place(space) is same and only time is changed.

So, let’s talk about the real-life possibility of entering a worm hole. Worm holes are theoretical assumptions based on the relativity theory. There is no evidence for the existence of a wormhole anywhere. One thing to be noted is that a wormhole, which is theoretically possible have a size for only a subatomic (or even smaller) particle can pass through. So, there is no possibility for a man-sized worm hole like the one found inside the Winden caves.

Higgs particle

According to quantum field theory Higgs particle is a fluctuation in Higgs field which in result gives mass to the elementary particles. Those particles which interacts with Higgs field acquires mass and those which does not interact have zero mass (like photon). Let’s come to the instance where the Higgs particle is visualized in the series. After the apocalypse, Claudia comes to the power plant and there she sees a bright thing suspended in air. She says it is the Higgs particle.

The scientific mistake here is the Higgs particle cannot be seen like this. It is an elementary particle and it is extremely small; smaller than the subatomic particles like Proton.

Cesium 137

The black colored material often called as black matter in the series is Cesium 137. Cesium is an element which has an atomic number 55 have several isotopes. One of the isotope of Cesium is Cs-137. This isotope is radioactive. Mostly used in atomic clocks to attain maximum accurate time. In Dark, Black matter aka Cs-137 is used by characters to power up the time machine. There is a plenty of Black matter produced as a result of a small accident occurred at the power plant years ago. This black matter is stored in yellow colored barrels inside cave and later buried in the power plant.

It is a nice thought from the creators that Cs-137 is used in the time machine since we use it in atomic clocks to get accuracy in time.

Bootstrap Paradox

Time travel of someone results in so many paradoxes. Some of them are inevitable. Bootstrap paradox is one of them.

If a person builds a time machine and travel to past to the era of young Albert Einstein who didn’t yet think about relativity and the person taught him the Theory of relativity, years later the child version of the same person study relativity from school. Few years later the person travel back in time and again teaches Einstein the Relativity theory. This happens in a cycle. This emerge as an unsolvable paradox.

Dark series is mainly based on this effect. All characters are trapped in an unending cycle. To increase the complication of the timeline parallel world concept is also introduced.

Though there are some scientific mistakes are there, Dark is one of the greatest ever written science fiction work which deserves more viewers. If you didn’t yet watch this piece of art you will miss one hell of an experience.

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