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The concept of folding space has been suggested as a means of traveling throughout our universe

faster than light, but what happens when you start putting creases in the parchment of reality?

Welcome to another sci-fi Sunday here on Science and Futurism with Isaac Arthur, where we let

our hair down a bit on scientific realism, put our vulcan ears on, and explore concepts in science

fiction to see how likely they are, and how something similar might come

about if not. So grab a drink and a snack, and let's get to it. Today we'll be continuing

our long-running Fashion Light FTR Travel and Communication series by looking at the concept of folding

space. This is a means of travel that's been proposed in fiction quite a lot, probably

most famously in Frank Herbert's Legendary Dune series, although few details are given there

and not always consistently. Indeed, as is often the case with FTR systems in science fiction,

since they are usually a footnote to permit the story's plot, not the plot itself, details

are often scarce and conflicting.

The basic form of folding space is that it is instantaneous travel, something even

wormholes don't really offer, being shortcuts, not total bypasses, and indeed ones that

might require months or even years for many models, not mere moments.

...