Another time travelling experiment

KerrTexas

KerrTexas

Super Moderator
I propose an experiment that if we all do, it would increase the chances of success. We can all report back here and post any results.

The Experiment:

1. Purchase the following from any hardware store;

a. Length of ABS pipe

b. two(2) ABS caps

c. ABS Glue

2. Prepare a note on a material that will endure a lenthy period of time.

a. The note is to be addressed to anyone in the future. Inscribe a place, time and date that you can meet any possible time travellers if they find your note.

3. Place the note into the ABS tube and seal it with the caps.

4. Bury the tube someplace where it may be discovered far into the future.

If many of us do this, and time travel becomes a reality, we increase our chances at having at least one of our time capsules discovered. Instead of doing nothing but debating, I believe we should step up and start doing something to progress towards success of REAL time travel.

 
I am certainly willing to do as you say. But can we do more? If, as other posts have insinuated, the phenom of time is directly associated with light and the speed thereof, could we not also share thoughts about how to use light to investigate time?

 
I think that this is an excellent idea. It should be noted, though, that if a million people do this and nothing comes of it, that doesn't prove the non-existence of time-travellers. All it would prove is that any possible time-travellers found themselves either unable or unwilling to comply with the requests. Or that none of the time capsules were ever found.

For the material that will endure (step two) I'd suggest a reasonably thick (half an inch, or so) sheet of either some kind of metal (aluminium, maybe?) or plastic. And then carve the message into it quite deeply.

 
Was thinking about the material also. Wondering if maybe an old can of soda would suffice, if cut open and using it like a piece of paper. Or too thin perhaps?

Also , I am wondering if the ABS glue might have a negative effect. I know it does emit vapors, and if in time would possibly cause damage to the contents of the "time" capsule.

I am writing a letter to Huntington Library in San Marino to se if they would let me bury one within the mueseum grounds. Any other suggestions as to where to place them?

 
This is going to sound crazy, but old outhouses, places where buildings used to be, and beaches.

My uncle is what I like to call a "digger". He goes around with his metal detector at the above places and unearths items of historical and monetary value on fairly regular basis. He's quite the collector.

If I was going to bury a time capsule these would be the places I would consider.

Places of already historical resonance. Old battlefields, "town squares", points of interest.

It depends on how far you're looking to send the time capsule before discovery.

Timeline79

 
Excellent suggestions! I never thoguht of that, and it makes perfect sense. I too use a metal detector when I have the time and I have yet to dig around an old mueseum.

 
Has anyone done this yet? I got the ABS pipe and end caps. But I havent written a note yet. And I am really stuck on where to bury the things.

Got to make sure they get placed in locations of future discovery.

Any other suggestions?

 
A fine idea for an experiment. My only question is, what 'incentive' is there for a time traveller to visit anyone of us at the pre-arranged meeting place?

 
A covert contact. It would be nice to have a pre-arranged place to stay, and access to someone familiar with the era. It seems it would simplify things tremendously for a time traveller.

 
Not that I know of. I have the materials ready to go, but haven't put them together as of yet. Plus, need a little more planning as to where to bury them, and where, when to propose a meeting place.

 
Moved since I wrote the posts in this thread - never got around to doing this - but thinking of doing it now. Have to buy the materials again. With the new folks on board, anyone interested in doing this experiment too ?

 
I'll do it.

I have a few questions though:

I'm supposed to write a note for the time traveler to meet me somewhere? Wouldn't that be too specific? I mean, If I write something like "meet me on June 3rd by the city library at noon." Wouldn't I have to dig it out and change that when June 3rd comes? Or worse, what if the time traveler has business to solve on a date different than June 3rd? I thought maybe we could put our home addresses but that would not be safe. Maybe we put something like this "I'll be at the shopping mall every Saturday, at noon, wearing a TTI t-shirt. I'll be next to the north exit". I know that if I missed one saturday visit to the mall I would never forgive myself, lol

Also, how would a time traveler know where to look for such a hidden note? Are you assuming that the time traveler will have access to the list of places where he/she can find the notes? The list will be posted here, of course, right?

I like your idea! :thumbsup:

 
Interesting idea! It can be any type of materials as long as it functions as a good time capsule, right? Also, just a suggestion, why not put more information inside? You can go as far as making two time capsules. When one of them is found in the future, it gives instructions as to how to change the other time capsule. This way, you can observe the other time capsule if there are changes. This way, not only can you secure an encounter after burying the time capsules, you can also secure an event before you bury them.

 
There are stainless steel time capsules available, but those are expensive. ABS pipe is a lot cheaper... but yeah, any type of material could be used if it can last for many, many years and keep the contents safe. The more capsules involved, the greater the chances of at least one being found.

Even if time travel doesn't exist, still would be awesome to have your capsule discovered sometime far in the future.

As far as figuring out where to place the capsules, still thinking on that issue. The when to meet would probably be a few years - that way have an opportunity to maybe place additional capsules, and prepare for the possible meeting.

There is a lot of flexibility about what to do, the basic foundation of the experiment, is that it is cheap to buy and easy to make.

 
Maybe I'm over tired from work, but correct me if I'm wrong about the premise of your experiment.

You propose that in 2015, we write a note to last for 20 years or longer, in a buried time-capsule. In 2035 (20 years time), if time-travel is possible and exists, time-travellers will come across these buried time-capsules, read the notes inside, and will proceed to travel back in time to the pre-arranged date contained in the note (for e.g. 2019)? Is this the basic premise?

 
There are stainless steel time capsules available, but those are expensive. ABS pipe is a lot cheaper... but yeah, any type of material could be used if it can last for many, many years and keep the contents safe. The more capsules involved, the greater the chances of at least one being found.Even if time travel doesn't exist, still would be awesome to have your capsule discovered sometime far in the future.
As far as figuring out where to place the capsules, still thinking on that issue. The when to meet would probably be a few years - that way have an opportunity to maybe place additional capsules, and prepare for the possible meeting.

There is a lot of flexibility about what to do, the basic foundation of the experiment, is that it is cheap to buy and easy to make.
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It is quite a very intelligently made experiment. It's flexible, cheep and very simple. In my experience, the simplest ideas are the most brilliant ones. Anyway, I just replied to commend you, sir. You're brilliant.

 
Maybe I'm over tired from work, but correct me if I'm wrong about the premise of your experiment.You propose that in 2015, we write a note to last for 20 years or longer, in a buried time-capsule. In 2035 (20 years time), if time-travel is possible and exists, time-travellers will come across these buried time-capsules, read the notes inside, and will proceed to travel back in time to the pre-arranged date contained in the note (for e.g. 2019)? Is this the basic premise?
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Late 1970's, early 80's I was involved with an archaeological project in the Mojave Desert ; locating and recording as many petroglyphs as possible. A percentage of the inscriptions were estimated to be approx. 12,000 years old. Posting here on Time Travel Institute, got me to thinking about those inscriptions and time travel.
How I could create something like those inscriptions that could potentially last just as long?

In working out the details, ruled out carving messages in rock (maybe). While wandering around in the local hardware store, saw the ABS pipe, and had an "ah ha" moment. Don't think the ABS capsules will last 12,000 years, however, they certainly would last more than 20. That is something I have been pondering - is how to make the capsules and the message(s) last as long as possible. Perhaps into the thousands of years.

IF there are time travelers some day, seems reasonable that having a friend in the past would be a benefit.

And even if there isn't time travel in the distant future, still would be awesome to have someone find my capsules, and wonder who I was, just as I wondered the same about the person that carved messages into rock 12,000 years ago.

 
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