During the cold autumnal months of 1905, German theoretical physicist Albert Einstein published a scientific paper that spoke about the properties of light and time. In the paper, he also included an equation that would come to be one of the most iconic in history: E=mc².
The equation not only redefined humanity’s understanding of energy and matter, but also changed how we think about time, motion, and the structure of the universe itself. For those dreaming of starships and intergalactic travel, E=mc² is both an invitation to explore and a door slammed shut.
So, what does it all mean? And what does it say about our future? Click through this gallery to find out.