The Upside Down in "Stranger Things" is not just a freaky parallel dimension, but an Einstein-Rosen Bridge, a theoretical phenomenon that has captivated scientists and science fiction writers alike. This bridge, predicted by Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen in 1935, is a tunnel connecting two distant points in the universe, providing a shortcut through the curvature of spacetime. But here's where it gets controversial: the existence of these bridges is still purely theoretical, and they are inherently unstable, making it a challenge to determine if they can actually be used for travel.
In the sci-fi realm, however, Einstein-Rosen Bridges have been used as a means of interstellar and interdimensional travel. Let's explore some of these instances, from classic movies like "The Black Hole" to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Black Hole (1979)
In this hard sci-fi movie, Dr. Hans Reinhardt plots a flight into the eponymous black hole, mentioning an Einstein-Rosen Bridge as a potential consideration. While the movie's heaven and hell metaphors are a bit unsubtle, it's a bold reference to a theoretical concept that adds to the movie's scientific rigor.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999)
Despite the Bajoran wormhole being central to the plot, the notion of the Einstein-Rosen Bridge only receives one mention over the show's seven-season run. It's not even spoken aloud, as the words 'Einstein' and 'Rosen' only appear in a school vocabulary list.
Sliders (1995-2000)
In this '90s sci-fi show, a young genius Quinn Mallory inadvertently opens a series of Einstein-Rosen-Podolsky Bridges between worlds. While the mention of physicist Boris Podolsky is a bit of a mix-up, it's an interesting use of the concept in a sci-fi setting.
Contact (1997)
Dr. Ellie Arroway, played by Jodie Foster, believes she's flown through a rollercoaster of wormholes to reach Vega and meet an alien. While her interstellar adventure lasts mere fractions of a second, she uses the concept of an Einstein-Rosen Bridge to explain her experience to a Congress inquiry, hoping to convince politicians of the scientific rigor behind her mission.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (2011-present)
The MCU uses Einstein-Rosen Bridges as a quasi-scientific justification for its many interdimensional portals. In the original "Thor," Dr. Jane Foster observes that the lensing around the anomaly is characteristic of an Einstein-Rosen Bridge. In "Thor: Ragnarok," Bruce Banner describes the Devil's Anus as a collapsing neutron star inside an Einstein-Rosen Bridge.
Stranger Things (2016-2022)
In the final episodes, it's revealed that the Upside Down is an Einstein-Rosen Bridge, connecting our world with another. This is a major giveaway, as Mr. Clarke's class about Einstein-Rosen Bridges in season 5's third episode seemed a bit advanced for middle-school students. However, it also provided some handy exposition for one of the biggest reveals of the final episodes.
These examples show how Einstein-Rosen Bridges have been used in sci-fi to explain interstellar and interdimensional travel, despite the fact that their existence is still purely theoretical. It's a fascinating concept that continues to captivate scientists and science fiction writers alike.
