Einstein–Rosen bridges are the earliest theoretical models of wormholes, proposed in 1935 by Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen. They attempted to describe particles as geometric features of spacetime by connecting two separate points in space using a mathematical solution to Einstein’s field equations.
In this model, the bridge connects two Schwarzschild black holes, forming a tunnel-like structure—a non-traversable wormhole. While it was a pioneering idea, the Einstein–Rosen bridge:
- Pinches off too quickly, preventing anything from passing through
- Does not remain stable, even under small disturbances
- Exists only briefly, making it a purely theoretical construct
Despite these limitations, the Einstein–Rosen bridge laid the groundwork for modern wormhole theories and inspired later concepts of traversable wormholes—which require exotic matter to keep the tunnel open.
It represents a key moment in the merging of general relativity with more speculative ideas about the topology of spacetime, and it remains a foundational concept in both theoretical physics and science fiction.