Patty Summerhill entered Julie Newcomb’s laboratory and stopped short. Every horizontal surface in the room was stacked with computer printouts and hand-written notes on Post-its, take-out menus, and used napkins. Every millimeter of wall space was covered with mathematical formulas and sketches of spirals and ellipses.
Newcomb perched on a stool in front of a large bank of computer monitors, her fingers flying over a keyboard. Lacking a diplomatic way to tell her colleague that she looked like hell, Summerhill told her that in just so many words. Not that it mattered; Newcomb wasn’t listening anyway. So Summerhill placed a call to IT and had them remotely lock the computer system.
Newcomb shrieked a string of expletives no one has heard before or since. Summerhill quickly assured her that all her work was backed up on both a local and remote server and that, by contract, she was to take a ten minute break every two hours. A not-so-subtle suggestion to get some rest during the imposed downtime was promptly ignored. Instead, Newcomb pulled a palm-top computer from her pocket and became engrossed in another calculation as she paced a tight figure eight. (Newcomb would have insisted it was a lemniscate.) Summerhill decided to risk interrupting again.
“Julie, this doesn’t look like your primary research.” No response. In a louder voice, “What is all this?”
“Time travel.”
“Time travel? Are you kidding?”
Newcomb stopped pacing. “I don’t kid. I’ve already worked out the basic formula.” Then she glared at the locked terminal. “All but a few final calculations.” She said it matter-of-factly.
“Really?” Summerhill’s voice rose in surprise and admiration.
“Really.”
“But how?”
Summerhill’s PhDs in physics and mathematics were no match for Newcomb who had thrice that number of advanced degrees. Newcomb considered Summerhill to be on the low end of the bell curve. She dropped the palm-top on an already precariously-balanced stack of papers and pointed at the graffiti on the nearest wall.
“It’s time and space,” she began. “We’re moving at over 450 meters per second due to the earth’s rotation. That’s at the equator and has to be adjusted for latitude. At the same time, the earth is orbiting the sun at nearly 30 kilometers per second while our solar system is whipping around the Milky Way at over 240 kilometers per second and so on — to infinity… if the universe is infinite. My calculations use values that are far more precise, of course.
“I’ve determined that there is a fixed point around which everything — and I mean everything — else revolves. Archimedes said he could move the earth with a lever if he had a place to stand. But he also would have needed a fixed point for the fulcrum.”
“Not to mention a really long pole for the lever,” Summerhill interjected. The withering look from Newcomb indicated she did not appreciate the interruption or the attempt at humor.
Newcomb went on. “By calculating movement in relation to that fixed point I can ‘leverage’ an object either forward or backward in time. And,” she turned to a long equation on the opposite wall, “I have found the universe’s stationary point. Anyway, here wasn’t here until right now so to move to here back in time we also have to calculate where here was then. Likewise, if we want to move forward in time we have to calculate where here will be then. Otherwise you’re likely to end up somewhere… unpleasant, like far outside the earth’s atmosphere or at the sun’s corona, for example. All I need is the location of the fixed point and the locations of where/when I want to move to and from.” She looked at Summerhill again as if expecting a stupid question and was not disappointed.
“So it’s an infinite n-Body calculation, right? You know, there’s a common misconception that n-Body calculations are impossible to solve. How are you validating your data?”
Newcomb sighed heavily. “First, yes. It’s an infinite n-Body calculation. I just said that. Second, unsolvable is simply ridiculous. They’re only impossible to solve if your knowledge of math is limited to vector calculus. And third, I’ve already moved single atoms and some organic molecules forward and backward in time. That’s more validation than you’ll get from any mere theoretician. My calculations now are extrapolating the equation to increase the size of the nth body to include my body.” She glared again at the locked computer.
Summerhill was a bit dumbfounded, but decided that further discussion would be fruitless. She insisted that Newcomb maintain the break schedule and suggested she either rest or get something to eat until the system was unlocked. Instead Newcomb grabbed the palm-top and resumed pacing.
The next morning Summerhill decided to look in on Newcomb’s lab on the way to her office. As she approached the building she heard a loud humming that built to a crescendo followed by a flash of light. She opened the door to an empty lab with bare, white walls. An odd feeling that something was not right crept through Summerhill and she couldn’t remember why she had wandered into the empty space. “I’m just getting old, I guess,” she muttered to herself. “At least there was no one around to see me wandering about like a fool.”
Dr. Patty Summerhill returned to her office with the oddest thought echoing through her head. “When I got there, there wasn’t any there there.” She has no idea what that means….
.
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Excellent stuff, you certainly either know, or give a convincing impression that you know, your maths! And respect, you made me go look up a word too in ‘lemniscate’ – it’s Latin etymology is really rather beautiful, ribbonlike – trust the maths droids to rip the romance out of it!
Thanks, Marc. Lemniscate is a beautiful word. And I’m glad the maths appears convincing because, to be honest, I know just enough to be able to look up the names of the maths I don’t really know. ~Tim
Well, I guess her timetravel idea worked! All that math talk sounded real.
Thanks, Sonia. I think it did work. And the math is real-ish. ~Tim
I liked that: ‘calculate where here was then. Likewise, if we want to move forward in time we have to calculate where here will be then’ time travel is always good value, I like to think there is a Summerhill and Newcomb somewhere or when. Liked Newcomb’s lab covered in post it notes, napkins and menus.
Thanks, Adam. I’ve wondered for a while why time travel stories all seem to leave space out of the time/space continuum. ~Tim
Yes I’m guessing her time travel did work, but did she go backwards and alter things, so that she no longer existed in this time frame? Now you really have me thinking ,did she go backwards and change her timeline, rather than an alternative one?… Or did she just go forwards in time and therefore no longer exits in that particularly time frame = did she ever exist – dear me Tim I’m now going to be pondering this all day
Thanks, Helen. Those are exactly the questions I want everyone to be asking. [And I'm not telling.] ~Tim
Brilliant! I loved the word “lemniscate,” too. I’m not much of a maths person, either, but I knew I’d heard the word before. I had to look it up online because the dictionary on my MacBook didn’t have it. Then, I remembered. Ah, Bernoulli! I read something about him for research once. A story that didn’t quite pan out. Great story, sir. I think Ms. Newcomb has found her TARDIS. Anyway, this is the comment that I posted two days before you wrote this excellent tale.
Thanks, Maria. And you may remember that I thanked you in advance as well.
~Tim
Really enjoyed this bite-sized math tale.
I especially liked how you worked Archimedes in there.
Thanks, Coral. I actually started the first draft of this with Archimedes. I took him out completely for a while, but just had to work him back in. ~Tim
Nicely told and so convincing. I wonder how many have already discovered this and we just don’t know it… or don’t know that we do know… or.. oh well. Great story!
Thanks, Chuck. I have to wonder, if I had really figured out time travel would I come back and tell everyone else? I don’t think so. ~Tim
I have totally taken notes on the backs of take-out menus. My best was the sketch of a short story in the margins of a playbill. Never came up with something this functional, though, Tim.
Thanks, John. I scribble on whatever is at hand with dubious results. ~Tim
Cool! I think you could have ended it just as well before the last paragraph.
I expect Newcomb will turn up somewhere/when eventually. And I have to agree, if one’s knowledge of maths is limited to vector calculus, one is missing out on rather a lot
Thanks, Mazzz. You’re right about that last paragraph. And I’ll keep an eye out for Newcomb. ~Tim
I first read this story next week, and I fully intend to read it again last year, oh dear… now where was I?
Nice one Tim, this is why we shouldn’t attempt time travel, it’s just all too complicated isn’t it?
Thanks, Steve. I can’t wait till I write this some day. ~Tim
This was thoroughly enjoyable.
The working out was a joy to read. I like a good bit of maths in my stories!
Bravo!
Thanks, Ian. I was afraid the maths would be off-putting to readers, but it seems that was unfounded. ~Tim
Excellent indeed – this is fantastic stuff Tim! I love the mind bending conversation, and your characterization is outstanding. Great stuff!
Thanks, Deanna. Time travel always bends my mind. ~Tim
Wow! Great story!
Mathematics generally flies over my head (I’m the “artsy” one in the family) but you made it sound riveting… and the time travel convincing.
Thank you so much, Lee-Ann. That is high praise. ~Tim
You have a mindblowing mixture here of intellect, logic and imagination. Good one – must have been hard to put together.
Thanks, Vicky. I did have to do some research to check some facts and make it sound real. But it was fun. ~Tim
Wait, did the time travel actually work or did she completely remove herself from existence? Either way the ramification are interesting!
Awesome-ness!
Thanks, Anthony. Excellent question. Which do you think? ~Tim
The problem she’s really facing is that you can predict how fast an atom is moving through space, or you can predict where it will be…but you can’t observe the two things together. So wherever she’s gone, I hope she got there in one piece…
Thanks, Icy. I hope so too. There’s uncertainty in every theory. ~Tim
The rambling math calculations were fantastic! Fun story, Tim.
Thanks, Danielle. Math can be fun! Well, at least speculating about what math might be certainly is. ~Tim
Loved your characterisation of Newcomb, and it’s nice to read a female mad genius for once! It’s true women can get just as obsessive
. I’m a complete maths pleb so you gave just enough detail to convince me you actually knew what you were talking about… and I’m so damn intimidated by writing maths or science theories! I admire writers who can pull it off.
Thanks, Stacey. This is the closest to hard SF I’ve ever tried to write, and even though I love math and science it was a bit intimidating. Can I also say that some of the smartest and most obsessive people I know are women [without sounding like a misogynist]? ~Tim
Fun, I like the geometric & relatively simple physics (fulcrum) approach to time travel; with the hugely complex computations. I’m glad she got her revenge in the end. I’d be annoyed if someone locked me out of my computer. When one concentrates on the problem at hand, they’re owed being left alone… even if it means skipping preordained breaks.
Thanks, Aidan. I suspect Summerhill’s actions were a CYA move. ~Tim
Loved this. But I was waiting for the punchline about how the universe revolves around their department head.
Thanks, FAR. It was tempting to put the joke in there. Lord only knows how I resisted. ~Tim
That was a really neat story. I don’t usual read things like this but it was a good change from what I usually read. It makes me want to read more stories of this genre.
Thanks, Hannah. Change is good. I’m so glad you enjoyed this. ~Tim
I had to look up lemniscate. And me with a math degree and everything. Love these characters–and a very fun, realistic idea. Er… realistic. You know.
Thanks, Jen. I’m going to let you in on a secret. I knew the symbol has a name, but I had to look it up because I knew my character would know what it is. ~Tim
“…I met a man who wasn’t there.
He wasn’t there again today…”
So, either Dr. Newcomb has taken her lab away to somewhen so she can work in peace, or things have worked so well, she never was there. Oh dear.
Also had to go look up the word “lemniscate” – a nice detail that adds to the feel of the piece.
Nicely done.
Thanks, Kevin. I like a little ambiguity in most of what I write. And on a quantum level, I don’t think any of us are really here. ~Tim
You made Marc have to look up a word? Amazing. (I had to look it up, too. It is a beautiful word, beautiful concept.) Loved the story and do admire your ability to knowledgeably and convincingly represent and incorporate math and physics into such a short story. And love that it is a female genius, especially given the male-dominated field.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. 
Thanks, Melissa. I enjoy stories that make me think [and look up the odd word on occasion]. I’m glad this one has been such for so many readers. ~Tim
Love the sci fi. It sounded authentic and plausible. A good balance between the science and the humour. The characterisation is well done.
Adam B @revhappiness
Thanks, Adam. Knowing where the stationary point of the universe is makes balancing easier. ~Tim