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"Warp Speed, Mr. Sulu!"

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12:47 am
May 8, 2009


Revenant

Hopelessly Locked In A "Fear Cage"

Lead Investigator

posts 1393

A couple of boys over at Baylor have defiinitely strapped on their thinking caps:

http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=09050806-star-trek-warp-speed-two-physicists-have-new-idea-that-could-make-it-happen

The Gist Of It: They "theorise that by manipulating the space-time dimensions around the spaceship with a massive amount of energy, it would create a 'bubble' that could push the ship faster than the speed of light."

The Catch: "The Baylor physicists estimate that the amount of energy needed to influence the extra dimensions is equivalent to the entire mass of Jupiter being converted into energy."

It's a cool theory but man…the energy that it would take is just crazy.

"Skepticism is not a position, it's a process." -Dr Michael Shermer

6:50 am
May 8, 2009


Oubliette

Igloo in NJ

Lead Investigator

posts 574

Interesting idea.  I've seen numerous shows regarding this 11 Dimensions theory.  I forget–why 11?  String theory also looks enticing but will remain in the realm of speculation.

To quote one of the researchers: "We are still a very long ways off before we could create something to harness that type of energy."  No kidding!  Personally, I like the idea of using wormholes to travel vast distances.  Though highly speculative, to me it has a bit more going for it, though it comes with its own set of problems. 

It is wonderful to speculate that mankind will someday be able to travel through space, but being a pessimist I simply can't see it happening.  But then again, Star Trek has shown that what we did not think possible 20 years ago has come to pass.  Although a long way from teleporting humans, physicists have accomplished this seemingly impossible feat with photons:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/08/0818_040818_teleportation.html

I'm sure that scientists will continue to try and discover ways to propel humans across the galaxies.  Even if, for now, it's just in the theoretical stage, what a fascinating concept it is!  But I doubt if we will see this happen, if at all; certainly not in our lifetimes.  This may be a case where the journey to achieve the warp speed concept will prove to be more enlightening and fruitful than anything we can currently imagine.  Who knows what might be discovered along the way?

If 50 million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.
Anatole France

12:03 am
May 11, 2009


Revenant

Hopelessly Locked In A "Fear Cage"

Lead Investigator

posts 1393

Oubliette,

Thanks for the link.  Pretty interesting.  What I love about it is that, eventually, even the average guy off the street will know about it in time.  He may not fully understand it, but he'll use it.  As for the "warp theory" from my original post…yeah, not so much.  Smile

"Skepticism is not a position, it's a process." -Dr Michael Shermer

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