this post was submitted on 28 Oct 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 12 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

It'd actually be cool as fuck if we could make some kind of Paycheck-style time machine that lets you see into the past by simply looking at light reflected off other celestial objects.

It could theoretically work looking backwards, but not forwards as it was used in the film. Of course, it'd have to have insane resolution for it to be like a video of what happened on the planet and not just a dot of light.

[–] BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz 14 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

time machine that lets you see into the past by simply looking at light

You mean, this ?

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

lol

Real time, tho. That way we can see photographs from before cameras, too. Watch what dinosaurs were doing n stuff.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Unfortunately light wouldn't remain collimated over a 33 million light year distance which is what we would need to see dinosaurs

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 1 points 3 weeks ago

How about heat? Or some other radiation? 🤔

[–] 18107@aussie.zone 4 points 3 weeks ago

You can also watch light move with a camera.

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Alternatively, and slightly cheaper, put a satellite into orbit and just record everything on the ground it looks at, hang onto recordings for 10 years.

[–] InnerScientist@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

But that's boring, doing it with light is way better.

Also the governments already do that and don't want to share.

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

But that’s boring, doing it with light is way better.

I get that it seems cooler, but you would be looking at recordings with gathered light either way.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

I can get nostalgia looking at my previous address on Maps because it shows my old Jetta (my first car) in the driveway :D

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Google maps is one of the only applications that has literally made cry. The other is excel for entirely different reasons.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Google Earth/Maps in VR is pretty wild for visiting memory places.

[–] Taldan@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

As if we're not already doing that

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Exactly, you can go on Google Earth right now and view the past.