567: Accidental Time Travelers | The Mystery and Science of Time Slips

The Why Files: Operation Podcast

Imagine walking down a familiar street when suddenly everything changes. The asphalt beneath your feet transforms into cobblestone, cars vanish, replaced by horse-drawn carriages. The air fills with the scent of coal smoke and horse manure.
People in Victorian-era clothing hurry past, glancing at you suspiciously. Panic sets in as you realize you're no longer in your own time. Then, just as quickly, you're back in the present day.
You just had a Time Slip, and you're not alone. Thousands of people worldwide have reported experiencing time slips. They briefly travel through time, witnessing scenes from the past or future before returning to the present.
Are these experiences vivid hallucinations, or could they be glimpses into the true nature of time and reality? Today, we cover a few famous Time Slip stories and the scientific theories that might explain them.