Scientific Flaws in the 'Passengers' Movie: A Critical Analysis

The popular science fiction film 'Passengers' raises several intriguing questions while also introducing a vast array of captivating scientific concepts. However, a closer examination reveals a number of notable scientific inaccuracies. This article delves into the details of these flaws, primarily focusing on the depiction of hypersleep technology, spacecraft design, and the time dilation effect. Additionally, it critiques the movie's portrayal of environmental control systems and the medical aspects of awakening passengers from long-term stasis.

Hypersleep Technology

The concept of hypersleep in 'Passengers' involves placing human beings into a state of suspended animation to reduce the duration of interstellar travel. This process, while intriguing, is riddled with inaccuracies:

Reality Check: Hypersleep Technology

Current understanding of physics suggests that interstellar travel on timescales comparable to those depicted in the film would require extraordinary advances in technology, such as warp drives or wormholes. These technologies are currently purely theoretical and far beyond our current technological capabilities.

The movie portrays the process as straightforward, whereas the reality would likely involve complex medical protocols to ensure the health and recovery of the passengers.

Long-term stasis could potentially have various adverse effects on the human body, including muscle atrophy and bone density loss, which is not addressed in the film.

Spacecraft Design and Function

'Passengers' depicts the Avalon spacecraft as a massive starship that travels to another star system. This raises several questions regarding the ship's propulsion system and energy requirements:

Reality Check: Spacecraft Design and Function

The film does not realistically portray the energy requirements and propulsion systems necessary for interstellar travel. Conventional methods of propulsion, such as chemical rockets or ion thrusters, would be far too inefficient for such a journey. More advanced technologies, like nuclear propulsion or sail-based systems, would be required, but are beyond our current capabilities.

The ship is depicted with a single propulsion system, which suggests a lack of redundancy. In reality, advanced spacecraft would likely be equipped with multiple backup systems to prevent catastrophic failures.

The movie does not explore the time dilation effect, which is a crucial aspect of interstellar travel. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the passage of time would differ for individuals in the spaceship compared to those on Earth, and this difference could be significant if the ship were traveling at a significant fraction of the speed of light.

Time Dilation

The time dilation effect is a fundamental concept in special and general relativity. 'Passengers' does not adequately address this phenomenon:

Reality Check: Time Dilation

Time dilation occurs when an object is moving close to the speed of light, or when it is in a strong gravitational field. The film does not explore how passengers experience time differently from those on Earth, which would be a significant aspect of the journey.

If the ship were traveling at a significant fraction of the speed of light, passengers would age much slower compared to those on Earth. This concept is central to interstellar travel but is not fully explored in the movie.

Time dilation could be a fascinating plot device to enhance the narrative, but the movie fails to utilize it in a meaningful way.

Environmental Control and Safety Protocols

'Passengers' also presents a concerning lack of attention to the ship's environmental control systems and emergency protocols:

Reality Check: Environmental Control and Safety Protocols

The environmental systems, such as gravity, air supply, and life support, are shown to fail without sufficient backup systems. In reality, advanced spacecraft would have multiple redundancies to prevent catastrophic failures.

The film portrays a lack of adequate emergency protocols for dealing with malfunctions in the hypersleep pods. A real spacecraft would be equipped with extensive safety measures to handle such situations.

Artificial Intelligence

The artificial intelligence (AI) portrayed in 'Passengers' is a mixture of science fact and science fiction, raising questions about the ethical implications and the nature of consciousness:

Reality Check: Artificial Intelligence

The ship's AI is depicted as highly advanced but does not exhibit behaviors consistent with known AI capabilities. In reality, decision-making processes would be more complex and would involve ethical considerations.

The portrayal of AI in the film blurs the line between technical capabilities and consciousness, which are still largely speculative concepts in the field of AI.

While 'Passengers' is an entertaining movie that captures the imagination, it is essential to critically evaluate the scientific aspects it portrays. These inaccuracies highlight the significant gap between the current state of space exploration technology and the extraordinary scenarios depicted in the film. Understanding these inaccuracies can contribute to a deeper appreciation of the scientific challenges involved in actual space travel.