Netflix premieres “The Three Body Problem” on March 21, a series based on a trilogy of books of the same name by Cixin Liu, but did you know that, beyond science fiction, this is a real problem created by physics and astronomy? We explain the theory to you.
The Three-Body Problem: The Book and Netflix Series Present a Real Problem
Although the Chinese author’s story is science fiction, it is based on some real-life scientific and technological elements, such as nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and even chaos theory.
At the center of the plot is a theme that gives the fiction its name: the three-body problem.
This question, unsolved for centuries, is what plagues an entire alien race.
What is the three body theory? This is what poses the problem
In real life, it is one of the oldest and most difficult problems to solve in physics and astronomy. Isaac Newton, who laid the groundwork for understanding gravitational pull and planetary motion in the universe, suggested this more than 300 years ago.
According to their theories, calculating the motions of two bodies orbiting the same central point (such as two planets in the solar system) is easy, since both orbits are predictable.
However, when you add another element to the equation, the result becomes chaotic and unpredictable. Although theoretically it would be possible, the three (or more) body problem exposes that too many variables will come into play. For each of these a calculation would have to be made. To this, we must add the complexity of time, how would these changes play out over thousands or millions of years? There would be so many factors that calculating each of them becomes impossible.
Although the three-body problem is how this theory is best known, it actually applies to any number of bodies, which is why it is also called the ‘n’ body problem.
It is worth noting that although numerical methods have been developed to address this question and new discoveries allow some thought to be made, no one has been able to solve the problem.
What are Trisolars?
This is when fiction and reality come together. In her books, Cixin Liu introduces an alien race called the Trisolarians. They live on the planet Trisolaris, which, as you might guess from the name, is in a three-sun star system, meaning it orbits three suns instead of just one.
Therefore, the inhabitants of the planet face significant limitations and conditions that force them to migrate to another planet to ensure their survival.
Did you already know what the three-body problem suggests in real life? Let us know in the comments if watching the Netflix series or reading the books catches your attention.
Source: univision
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
