this post was submitted on 28 Oct 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago

How about heat? Or some other radiation? 🤔

[–] 18107@aussie.zone 4 points 2 months ago

You can also watch light move with a camera.

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago

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

[–] Taldan@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

As if we're not already doing that

[–] ameancow@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

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