The Story Behind Interstellar
By Neil Roberts
It all began with a a White Paper about Interstellar Travel.
An ambitious hypothesis took shape: that an extraterrestrial civilization from Proxima Centauri b might have visited Earth in ancient times. This idea emerged from research into unexplained ancient structures and myths, and by gradually integrating scientific considerations as the research progressed. The question then became: Is interstellar travel possible between Proxima Centauri b and planet Earth within the timescales of humanity?
The hypothesis: Proxima Centauri b – the closest known exoplanet at about 4.2 light-years away; (roughly 40 trillion kilometers) – was proposed as the origin of these travellers, in part because its conditions might allow life (possibly ocean-dwelling, given the potential for an "ocean planet" scenario) despite the star’s intense flaring.
Humanity itself is studying how to send probes to Proxima. The Breakthrough Starshot programme proposes using powerful lasers to push gram-scale light sails to about 15–20% of light speed, reaching the Proxima system in about 20–30 earth years. This demonstrates that, in principle, unmanned travel between Earth and Proxima can be achieved within a human life-time. A flyby mission has been specifically proposed to study Proxima b using this technology. If an alien civilization similarly had fast probes or ships, travel times of a few decades or centuries (instead of millennia) become conceivable. If they live to the equivalent of hundreds of earth years, the same beings could return again and again, and might have been considered gods.
If space travel intrigues you, please read the scientific White Paper here on the website that makes the story possible, and maybe even highly likely. Beyond telescopes and physics, the White Paper explores a variety of speculative ideas connecting Proxima b’s hypothetical inhabitants to ancient human history. These hypotheses are unproven, but they serve as imaginative interpretations of historical puzzles. There are scientific notes at the back of the book, and I'm using an entertaining fiction novel as a way of exploring what might have been, or even what actually has been. I'll leave it up to you to speculate and make up your own minds.
Explore the Science
The full scientific White Paper that inspired Interstellar is available to read:
📄 Download the White Paper (PDF)
Neil Roberts
Author of Interstellar