April 18, 1995: Building a Time Machine - "Mad Man" Marcum

Twenty-one-year-old Michael Markum joins Art Bell to discuss his ambitious attempt to build a time machine using stolen electrical transformers, which led to his arrest and placement on probation. Markum explains his theory that massive electrical fields could create the conditions necessary for temporal displacement, based on his understanding of electromagnetic principles and relativity physics. Art Bell explores the scientific foundations of Markum's project, including the enormous energy requirements that theoretical physicists believe would be needed for time manipulation. The conversation examines Markum's progression from building simple high-voltage devices to attempting construction of what he believed could be a functional time travel apparatus. Markum describes his frustration with power limitations that drove him to steal transformers from utility companies, and his conviction that sufficient electrical energy could open doorways through time itself. Art Bell probes the legitimate physics behind time travel research while questioning whether Markum's approach had any scientific validity. The discussion touches on established scientific theories about temporal mechanics and the practical impossibility of achieving time travel with conventional technology. This fascinating episode blends youthful ambition with theoretical physics, demonstrating how scientific curiosity can lead to both innovation and trouble.