Scientists have conducted new research into the theoretical physics of traversable wormholes, which are speculated to be tunnels connecting different points in spacetime.
Previous studies indicated wormholes would look similar to black holes. This new study uses simulations to model what would happen if matter started accreting (falling into) one side of a wormhole.
The research finds this would create an extremely hot plasma tornado trapped in the “throat” of the wormhole. It would also fire plasma out the other wormhole opening at about 125 million mph, or one-fifth the speed of light.
This plasma tornado could potentially make the wormhole visible, as it would glow brightly from nuclear fusion reactions. The other opening would appear to rapidly shoot plasma into space.
However, the article notes such a wormhole may be too unstable and could transform into another spacetime configuration, making them difficult to detect empirically.
If detected, the plasma tornado and jets would allow scientists to distinguish a wormhole from a black hole based on observational signatures like brightness and particle ejection.
Source: Popular Mechanics
