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Investigate black holes, spacetime, and paradoxes as you build a time-travel theory in this 3-week program for elementary and middle school students at Cornell University.
Rated 4.2 out of 5 for classroom experience by students who took this course in 2026.
Instructor:
Course Description
An idea for time travel needs more than a clever machine. It has to answer the laws of physics and the paradoxes a trip through time might create.
In this course your child will investigate those puzzles through black holes, spacetime, and competing explanations of how the universe works. Students compare quantum mechanics and general relativity, explore ideas about negative energy and cosmic strings, and consider why a theory of quantum gravity remains a difficult problem.
Thought experiments and debate let students test an explanation without treating science fiction as fact. They examine scientific arguments, look for contradictions in mutable timelines, and separate evidence from speculation. The work builds toward an original time-travel theory. Students explain which physical ideas support it, the paradoxes it must address, and the questions it leaves open.
This three-week course for elementary and middle school students is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Cornell University’s campus in Ithaca, New York. Beyond class, students connect active academic exploration with campus life, growing independence, new friendships, and a clearer sense of what they may want to explore next.
What You Will Do
• Compare quantum mechanics and general relativity
• Investigate black holes, negative energy, and spacetime
• Trace contradictions in time-travel paradoxes
• Examine experiments and scientific arguments about time
• Test explanations through thought experiments and debate
• Develop and explain an original time-travel theory
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Compare physics ideas about how space and time behave
• Explain how a paradox exposes a theory’s contradictions
• Use evidence and stated assumptions to support a scientific explanation
You’ll leave with your time-travel theory and a certificate of completion.
Is This Course Right for You?
For students who have completed 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade. Black holes, time-travel stories, and puzzles without simple answers may spark your child’s curiosity. The course invites students to follow an unusual idea, spot a contradiction, and discuss different explanations with classmates.
View the eligibility requirements for the Institute for the Gifted on our FAQ page.
Your Summer at Cornell
Cornell’s Ithaca setting gives elementary and middle school students an adventurous first experience of campus life, surrounded by Finger Lakes gorges, waterfalls, and a landscape shaped by research, agriculture, and invention. The setting makes learning feel different from an ordinary school day and gives students plenty to notice and explore.
The program combines active academics with friendships, campus activities, clear routines, and support as students become more comfortable in a new environment. Students can try challenging ideas, share interests with peers, and enjoy the fun of living and learning on a university campus. For families, Cornell offers a structured elementary and middle school experience that balances learning and discovery with community, support, and growing independence.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification of completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive