The Warped Science of Interstellar

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the scientific concepts depicted in the film Interstellar, examining both established and speculative ideas like black holes, wormholes, and time travel, to understand their scientific basis and portrayal.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the scientific accuracy and representation of complex astrophysical phenomena in the movie Interstellar.

Findings

Explains the scientific concepts used in the film

Highlights the balance between scientific accuracy and speculation

Clarifies misconceptions about astrophysical phenomena

Abstract

The science fiction film, Interstellar, tells the story of a team of astronauts searching a distant galaxy for habitable planets to colonize. Interstellar's story draws heavily from contemporary science. The film makes reference to a range of topics, from established concepts such as fast-spinning black holes, accretion disks, tidal effects, and time dilation, to far more speculative ideas such as wormholes, time travel, additional space dimensions, and the theory of everything. The aim of this article is to decipher some of the scientific notions which support the framework of the movie.