Time wars? Bring it on! (science video)

In most works of science fiction, temporal paradoxes and time travel are usually entertaining, but what might a conflict that spans time really look like?

Time travel and temporal paradoxes have long been a staple of science fiction, from the classic “Back to the Future” movies to more recent TV shows like “Doctor Who” and “Legends of Tomorrow.” These stories are often entertaining and full of fun twists and turns as characters try to navigate the complexities of time travel and avoid altering the past in unintended ways.

But what would a genuine conflict that spans time actually look like? It’s hard to say for certain, as time travel is still largely the stuff of science fiction (at least as far as we know). However, we can speculate on some of the challenges and complications that might arise in a time-spanning conflict.

For starters, there’s the issue of logistics. Imagine trying to coordinate a battle across different time periods, with troops and equipment being sent back and forth through time. How do you ensure everything arrives at the right place and time, and that it doesn’t accidentally get destroyed or altered by events in the past? And what about communication? How do you coordinate strategy and tactics with your teammates when they are scattered across different points in time?

Then there’s causality. In most time travel stories, changing the past can have unintended consequences on the present or future. Imagine if one side in a temporal conflict accidentally caused an event in the past that ended up helping their enemies in the present. Or what if they altered the past in a way that caused a paradox, causing the timeline to unravel or become unstable?

There’s also the question of resources. It’s one thing to travel back in time for a brief visit or to retrieve a single item, but it’s another thing entirely to sustain a prolonged conflict across multiple time periods. How do you ensure that you have enough supplies, equipment, and personnel to keep the fight going? And what about the energy required to power time travel itself? Where does that come from, and how do you make sure you have enough of it?

In short, a conflict that spans time would likely be a logistical nightmare, with many complications and challenges arising from trying to coordinate and sustain a battle across different points in time. It’s certainly an interesting thought experiment, but we’re probably better off leaving time travel to the realm of science fiction for now.