In Star Trek we are constantly seeing characters teleport from location to location; while other sci-fi creations have seen abilities such as invisibility being utilised by heroes and villains alike. In the real world however are these ‘science fantasies’ actually possible? If you listen to the arguments put down by Michio Kaku then the answer is “affirmative captain”.

In his latest book, Kaku has purported that teleportation and invisibility will be possible one day through scientific advances. He has classified them as ‘Class I Impossibilities’ meaning that they may one day be a reality .  For a true impossibility, the classification of ‘Class III’ is used. His argument of different levels of possibility does follow a logical course, although it is somewhat dependent upon your definition of the word ‘impossible’.

Kaku’s system relies upon three distinct classifications that can be defined as thus:

Class I

An impossibility that does not violate the known laws of physics, it is argued that these impossibilities could be made possible within a century, for instance; in 1800 an aeroplane would have been considered impossible; in the same way, we see the ‘cloaking devices’ used in Star Trek as impossible today, in a hundred years, this may change considerably.

Class II

These are classified in terms of a technology that is right on the edge of our understanding of the laws of physics. It takes a lot of belief and understanding to grasp the concepts, while solving associated problems is still a long way off. Examples of ‘Class II’ impossibilities would be spaceships that can travel faster than the speed of light, the potential uses of wormholes and time travel. Kaku estimates that these technologies are not just centuries away, but maybe millennia.

Class III

These are impossibilities that clearly break the laws of physics as far as we understand them. For them to become a possibility it would take a monumental shift in our understanding of physical laws and properties. Examples of ‘Class III’ impossibilities would be perpetual motion machines and the prediction of future events through scientific means. These are both broad topics, but surprisingly there a few technologies and theories that Kaku has classified as ‘Class III’.

His theories may be radical, but it is the radical minds that have enacted change throughout history. Technological developments, especially revolutionary ones require thinkers to delve into subjects that may be considered fiction rather than fact. Take Jules Verne’s works from the nineteenth century; considered fiction in his own time, very few contemporary commentators would have expected to see forms of air and sea travel that were only present in Verne’s mind become a reality a century later. It is those who dare to dream, who really drive the human race forward.

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