The mystery of time and the ambition to transcend human limits

(Dan Tri) - Does a fourth dimension exist? And if so, what would happen if humans, creatures bound by time, could step into that world?

The development of mankind has always been associated with the use and calculation of numbers. From monotonous numbers recording time and events, humans have gradually progressed to discovering complex models of the world .

Mathematicians, as great explorers, have used the language of numbers to search for the truth of the universe. After describing one-dimensional and two-dimensional space, humans have succeeded in conceptualizing and quantifying the three-dimensional space in which we live.

However, the curiosity did not stop there. The question of whether a higher spatial dimension existed was confirmed by the famous German mathematician, Bernhard Riemann.

Georg Friedrich Bernhard Riemann was a German mathematician who made many important contributions to mathematical analysis and differential geometry (Photo: Natata).

Four-dimensional space: Time is the fourth dimension

To understand four-dimensional space, we need to go back to the most basic concepts. In two-dimensional space, a one-dimensional line is simply a line segment on a plane.

When a three-dimensional object, such as a drop of water, passes through this two-dimensional space, the creatures living in it will only see a fleeting shadow of constantly changing size.

Similarly, Professor Riemann deduced the complete model of four-dimensional objects by analyzing the countless details they leave behind as they pass through our three-dimensional world.

According to his hypothesis, three-dimensional space is just a “point” on the “plane” of four-dimensional space. Simply put, four-dimensional space is an infinite integration of all three-dimensional spaces. And the limiting attribute of three-dimensional entities is time.

For a four-dimensional being, time is not a one-way flow, but a spatial dimension that can be moved at will. They can observe and experience any moment, from the past to the future, as if watching a movie and changing the progress bar at will.

Illustration photo (Photo: CNET).

"The Four-Dimensional Worm" and the Desire for Immortality

Although humans are the most intelligent creatures in three-dimensional space, we are not “absolute” four-dimensional entities. We can only passively flow with the flow of time without being able to change it.

Riemann argued that we lack an “organ” to perceive and change time. However, he also came to a surprising conclusion: humans can compensate for this “deficiency” by using “tools”.

Similar to how a two-dimensional being creates its “height” by folding planes, humans can also enter four-dimensional space by “folding” their own time units.

When humans enter the four-dimensional space, we can become a “four-dimensional worm”, with infinite time details. We can observe every moment of our life, from birth to old age, just like a person watching a full movie.

This concept explains an instinctive human desire: the desire to overcome the limits of time, to seek immortality.

However, even though we are ultimately subject to time, bound by the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, the journey of searching for and exploring the four-dimensional space has brought a new perspective on our existence.

Instead of worrying about limitations, it is better for us to cherish and utilize our time to create value for ourselves. After all, as creatures who only live once in this three-dimensional space, who does not want to live a more meaningful life?

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/bi-an-cua-thoi-gian-va-tham-vong-vuot-qua-gioi-han-cua-loai-nguoi-20250922035422529.htm