Time Vortex

The Time Vortex is the place through which the TARDIS travels. With the Time Vortex, someone could conceivably reach any point in time or space (though the Time Spiral could cause some problems in the trip). Other space-time vessels, such as those used by the Daleks (DW: The Chase) use the Vortex, though not necessarily all of them.

Native life in time vortex includes the Reapers (DW: Father's Day) and the Chronovores. (DW: The Time Monster)

Mrs Wormwood detected artron energy in a body scan of Sarah Jane Smith, using it to conclude that she had traveled in the Vortex. (SJA: Invasion of the Bane)

We do not know if she had residual artron energy as the result of travel through the Vortex itself or as a result of her means of travel, namely the Doctor's TARDIS.

This may or may not have a connection with vortex energy, which Rose Tyler and the Doctor absorbed into their bodies, the former from looking into the Heart of the TARDIS, the latter from orally absorbing it from Rose. In both cases, the energy, which resembled bright white-gold wispy light, threatened to destroy their cellular structure, much like radiation. The Doctor had to regenerate in order to survive. (DW: The Parting of the Ways). However, even the Doctor's body contained some traces of vortex energy, which he exhaled. (DW: Children in Need Special, The Christmas Invasion)

The Doctor used the timey-wimey detector to trace the arrival of Billy Shipton, who had travelled back through time to 1969. This device may have been designed to detect the presence of vortex (or arton) energy. (DW: Blink)

Behind the Scenes

• The Time Vortex looks like the title screen on the series, specifically the title for the new series though it can look like any of the introductions..

See also

• Time Vortex Inhabitants
• Time Spiral
• TARDIS