A speech by science adviser Michael Kratsios has attracted attention from people who think he means the U.S. now has time travel technology

A comment by White House science adviser Michael Kratsios has gone viral after a speech in which he claimed U.S. technology can “manipulate time and space,” prompting online speculation.

Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, made the remark during a policy address at the Endless Frontiers Retreat in Austin, Texas on April 14.

“Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated, cause things to grow, and improve productivity,” Kratsios said during prepared remarks published on the official White House website.

While the statement was likely intended as aspirational language about technological progress, it has since circulated widely online, with some interpreting the comment literally.

  • skhayfa@lemmy.worldEnglish
    31·
    2 months ago

    The time distortion first came when a huge number of dense people gathered at the same spot in the white house.

  • Captain Janeway@lemmy.worldEnglish
    25·
    2 months ago

    “Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated, cause things to grow, and improve productivity”

    I - too - can walk, garden, and drink coffee.

  • Frjttr@lemm.eeEnglish
    12·
    2 months ago

    Sure, sure… Even a plane can “manipulate time and space”.

  • Iceman@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    2 months ago

    Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated, cause things to grow, and improve productivity

    Ok, so your on drugs. It’s not a particularly unique technology tho.

  • BmeBenji@lemm.eeEnglish
    11·
    2 months ago

    It manipulates space by “moving everything around you until the space around you is not the USA, but El Salvador,” and it manipulates time by making it seem like no time has passed as the space moves, almost like you were put to sleep with a tranquilizer (but that’s definitely not what it was)

  • MithranArkanere@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    2 months ago

    I can too.

    I can move through space all the way to next to my nightstand and change the clock’s time with a little wheel behind it.

  • Docandersonn@lemm.eeEnglish
    4·
    2 months ago

    “Prompting online speculation” … This line can be thrown into literally any news article.