The fifth and final season of Netflix's "Stranger Things," which aired its series finale on Dec. 31, prominently features the concept of wormholes, sparking renewed interest in the theoretical physics concept. The show, set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, explores the intersection of a normal world and a paranormal dimension, using wormholes as a plot device to connect these realms.

In the show, science teacher Scott Clarke, portrayed by Randy Havens, introduces the idea of wormholes to his students. Erica, played by Priah Ferguson, explains that wormholes "allow matter to travel between galaxies or dimensions without crossing the space between." This explanation, while simplified for a general audience, captures the essence of the theoretical concept.

Wormholes, also known as Einstein-Rosen bridges, are hypothetical topological features of spacetime that would fundamentally create a shortcut connecting two separate points in spacetime. While wormholes remain theoretical, their depiction in "Stranger Things" has prompted discussions about the potential, and limitations, of such phenomena.

According to theoretical physicists, the existence of wormholes is not entirely ruled out by Einstein's theory of general relativity. However, maintaining a stable, traversable wormhole would require exotic matter with negative mass-energy density, a substance that has not yet been observed or created.

The show's use of wormholes, while fictionalized, has served as an entry point for many viewers to learn about complex scientific concepts. The impact of "Stranger Things" extends beyond entertainment, potentially inspiring a new generation to explore science and technology.