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The '''butterfly effect''' was a theory that a [[butterfly]] could flap its [[wing]]s in one place and greatly affect events in another place, the phrase often being "a butterfly flaps its wings and causes a tropical hurricane."{{fact}} This was a concern in [[time travel]] that travelling to the past and crushing a butterfly could drastically change the future.
{{first pic|Butterfly effect Space Babies.jpg|[[Ruby Sunday]] steps on [[butterfly (Space Babies)|a butterfly]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}})}}
The '''butterfly effect''' was a theory that a [[butterfly]] could flap its [[wing]]s in one place and greatly affect events in another place. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Transit (novel)}}) This was a concern in [[time travel]] in that travelling to the past and making any little change, even something like crushing a butterfly, could drastically change the future. The [[Twelfth Doctor]] cited the "ripple effect", stating that if he'd change the past he could create a future where [[cat]]s ruled the [[universe]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Before the Flood (TV story)}})


The [[Seventh Doctor]] often cited this effect ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Dark Flame (audio story)|The Dark Flame]]''), describing butterflies as a "million multi-coloured pieces of time" and being called himself "the butterfly." ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Fearmonger]]'') According to one account, he described the butterfly effect to [[Ingiger]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Curse of Fenric (novelisation)|The Curse of Fenric]]'') He later realised that, like that theoretical butterfly, his interference in [[Earth]]'s history had resulted in [[Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart]] learning who he was and discovering time travel. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Transit]]'') [[Ace]] told [[Sesehset]] about the butterfly effect while in [[Egypt]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Set Piece]]'') After a game of [[chess]] with [[Oskar Steinmann]], the Doctor described the butterfly effect to him. Steinmann thought the solution would be to kill all the butterflies, or make them flap their wings only when ordered. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Just War (novel)|Just War]]'')
The [[Fourth Doctor]] accidentally stepped on a butterfly once but didn't notice it. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Prelude Falls the Shadow (short story)}})


The [[Eighth Doctor]] confused the theory a several times, mentioning how a [[bat]] flaps its wings and causes a tropical storm ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Invaders from Mars]]'') and how the beat of a butterfly's wings in [[Mettula Orionsis]] caused a [[time storm]] in the [[Mutter's Spiral]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Storm Warning (audio story)|Storm Warning]]'')
The [[Seventh Doctor]] often cited this effect, ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Dark Flame (audio story)}}) describing butterflies as a "million multi-coloured pieces of time" and being himself called "the butterfly". ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Fearmonger (audio story)}}) According to one account, he described the butterfly effect to [[Ingiger]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Curse of Fenric (novelisation)}}) He later realised that, like that theoretical butterfly, his interference in [[Earth]]'s history had resulted in [[Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart]] learning who he was and discovering time travel. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Transit (novel)}}) While in the year [[1993]], [[Romulus Terrin]], who was from the year [[2381]], assured [[James Rafferty]] that he was not going to go treading on any butterflies. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Dimension Riders (novel)}}) [[Ace]] told [[Sesehset]] about the butterfly effect while in [[Egypt]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Set Piece (novel)}}) After a game of [[chess]] with [[Oskar Steinmann]], the Doctor described the butterfly effect to him. Steinmann thought the solution would be to kill all the butterflies, or make them flap their wings only when ordered. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Just War (novel)}})


[[Martha Jones]] recognised this theory from its appearances in Earth [[film]]s, and was concerned about whether or not it was safe to "move around and stuff" in her past, recalling that "You step on a butterfly, you change the future of the [[human]] race." The [[Tenth Doctor]] advised her "don't step on any butterflies", and asked her, "What have butterflies ever done to you?" ([[TV]]: ''[[The Shakespeare Code (TV story)|The Shakespeare Code]]'')
The [[Eighth Doctor]] confused the theory a few times, mentioning how a [[bat]] flaps its wings and causes a tropical storm ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Invaders from Mars (audio story)}}) and how the beat of a butterfly's wings in [[Mettula Orionsis]] caused a [[time storm]] in the [[Mutter's Spiral]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Storm Warning (audio story)}})
[[Category:Wikipediainfo]]
 
[[Category:Theories and concepts]]
A literal example of the butterfly effect was regularly caused by the [[Council of Eight]] when they tried to fill the void left by the [[Time Lord]]s after they were wiped out. The Council regularly dispatched their Time Agents through [[time corridor]]s to set moments in order to ensure predicted outcomes in history came to pass. In one case, a Time Agent released a butterfly in the atmosphere in a location in [[Africa]], which resulted in changes to the atmosphere which led to the sinking of the [[Spanish Armada]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Sometime Never... (novel)}})
[[Category:Time travel]]
 
[[Martha Jones]] recognised this theory from its appearances in Earth [[film]]s, and was concerned about whether or not it was safe to "move around and stuff" in her past, recalling that "You step on a butterfly, you change the future of the [[human]] race." The [[Tenth Doctor]] advised her "[not to] step on any butterflies", and asked her, "What have butterflies ever done to you?" ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Shakespeare Code (TV story)}})
 
When [[Bill Potts]] asked about the butterfly effect, the [[Twelfth Doctor]] teased her by inventing a friend of hers, "[[Pete (Thin Ice)|Pete]]", who had stepped on a butterfly and accidentally [[temporal erasure|erased himself from existence]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Thin Ice (TV story)}})
 
On her first trip in the TARDIS, [[Ruby Sunday]] was concerned about the butterfly effect, but the [[Fifteenth Doctor]] told her she had nothing to worry about. Ruby promptly stepped on a butterfly at the prehistoric site of [[Green River]], [[Wyoming]], and was replaced by an alternate timeline counterpart, [[Rubathon Blue]]. The [[Fifteenth Doctor]] negated Rubathon's timeline by reviving the butterfly, after which he turned on the [[butterfly compensation switch]] in the TARDIS. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}})
 
A [[chaotic limiter]] could be used to reduce or increase the butterfly effect, ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Book of the War (novel)}}) as could a [[butterfly compensation switch]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}})
 
[[Category:Causality]]
[[Category:Effects of time travel]]
[[Category:Temporal theory]]

Latest revision as of 05:34, 14 May 2024

Butterfly effect
Ruby Sunday steps on a butterfly. (TV: Space Babies [+]Loading...["Space Babies (TV story)"])

The butterfly effect was a theory that a butterfly could flap its wings in one place and greatly affect events in another place. (PROSE: Transit [+]Loading...["Transit (novel)"]) This was a concern in time travel in that travelling to the past and making any little change, even something like crushing a butterfly, could drastically change the future. The Twelfth Doctor cited the "ripple effect", stating that if he'd change the past he could create a future where cats ruled the universe. (TV: Before the Flood [+]Loading...["Before the Flood (TV story)"])

The Fourth Doctor accidentally stepped on a butterfly once but didn't notice it. (PROSE: Prelude Falls the Shadow [+]Loading...["Prelude Falls the Shadow (short story)"])

The Seventh Doctor often cited this effect, (AUDIO: The Dark Flame [+]Loading...["The Dark Flame (audio story)"]) describing butterflies as a "million multi-coloured pieces of time" and being himself called "the butterfly". (AUDIO: The Fearmonger [+]Loading...["The Fearmonger (audio story)"]) According to one account, he described the butterfly effect to Ingiger. (PROSE: The Curse of Fenric [+]Loading...["The Curse of Fenric (novelisation)"]) He later realised that, like that theoretical butterfly, his interference in Earth's history had resulted in Kadiatu Lethbridge-Stewart learning who he was and discovering time travel. (PROSE: Transit [+]Loading...["Transit (novel)"]) While in the year 1993, Romulus Terrin, who was from the year 2381, assured James Rafferty that he was not going to go treading on any butterflies. (PROSE: The Dimension Riders [+]Loading...["The Dimension Riders (novel)"]) Ace told Sesehset about the butterfly effect while in Egypt. (PROSE: Set Piece [+]Loading...["Set Piece (novel)"]) After a game of chess with Oskar Steinmann, the Doctor described the butterfly effect to him. Steinmann thought the solution would be to kill all the butterflies, or make them flap their wings only when ordered. (PROSE: Just War [+]Loading...["Just War (novel)"])

The Eighth Doctor confused the theory a few times, mentioning how a bat flaps its wings and causes a tropical storm (AUDIO: Invaders from Mars [+]Loading...["Invaders from Mars (audio story)"]) and how the beat of a butterfly's wings in Mettula Orionsis caused a time storm in the Mutter's Spiral. (AUDIO: Storm Warning [+]Loading...["Storm Warning (audio story)"])

A literal example of the butterfly effect was regularly caused by the Council of Eight when they tried to fill the void left by the Time Lords after they were wiped out. The Council regularly dispatched their Time Agents through time corridors to set moments in order to ensure predicted outcomes in history came to pass. In one case, a Time Agent released a butterfly in the atmosphere in a location in Africa, which resulted in changes to the atmosphere which led to the sinking of the Spanish Armada. (PROSE: Sometime Never... [+]Loading...["Sometime Never... (novel)"])

Martha Jones recognised this theory from its appearances in Earth films, and was concerned about whether or not it was safe to "move around and stuff" in her past, recalling that "You step on a butterfly, you change the future of the human race." The Tenth Doctor advised her "[not to] step on any butterflies", and asked her, "What have butterflies ever done to you?" (TV: The Shakespeare Code [+]Loading...["The Shakespeare Code (TV story)"])

When Bill Potts asked about the butterfly effect, the Twelfth Doctor teased her by inventing a friend of hers, "Pete", who had stepped on a butterfly and accidentally erased himself from existence. (TV: Thin Ice [+]Loading...["Thin Ice (TV story)"])

On her first trip in the TARDIS, Ruby Sunday was concerned about the butterfly effect, but the Fifteenth Doctor told her she had nothing to worry about. Ruby promptly stepped on a butterfly at the prehistoric site of Green River, Wyoming, and was replaced by an alternate timeline counterpart, Rubathon Blue. The Fifteenth Doctor negated Rubathon's timeline by reviving the butterfly, after which he turned on the butterfly compensation switch in the TARDIS. (TV: Space Babies [+]Loading...["Space Babies (TV story)"])

A chaotic limiter could be used to reduce or increase the butterfly effect, (PROSE: The Book of the War [+]Loading...["The Book of the War (novel)"]) as could a butterfly compensation switch. (TV: Space Babies [+]Loading...["Space Babies (TV story)"])