[frogjerk]

It uses cold fusion

[Red Badger]

Ping!........................

[jerod]

Physics is magical... Magic is performed by witches and warlocks... Burn the witches and warlocks.

[MeanWestTexan]

Sounds a bit quackery to me. But you never know.

Regardless, I do hope LGBTPRQST black Asian Muslim Latinx are fairly represented or it’s all invalid racism and micro aggression.

[catnipman]

“propellantless propulsion drive, which appears to defy the known laws of physics, has produced enough thrust to counteract Earth’s gravity”

let me guess: it somehow uses H2O and magnets ...

[ConservativeMind]

I don’t think it’s its “propellant” that is what breaks laws, as a Crookes radiometer doesn’t have propellant, but used reflected, and absorbed, photons, as I recall.

The Crookes radiometer doesn’t defy Laws of Physics.

[teeman8r]

from the article: “rubbing the latex balloon across the polyester sweater will generate enough static electricity to propel the spaceship at nearly ludicrous speed.” not

[M Kehoe]

I can see the gravity of the matter.

5.56mm

[Leaning Right]

I’m a physics person myself. And I must admit that the article confused me. I would not be able to clearly explain Dr. Buhler’s method to anyone else. Maybe it’s because I’ve already had too much coffee today.

Anyway, I’ve already invented a workable propulsion system. It’s cheap, and very climate-friendly. Yet NASA ignores me. I guess I’m just not an insider like Dr. Buhler.

Here I am launching a volunteer towards the Moon.

[null and void]

"You’re just charging up Teflon, copper tape, and foam,"

I bet the foam is out gassing...

[zeugma]

If they have really been able to produce enough thrust to overcome gravity, this would be a very big deal. Hopefully, it will scale. I'd be interested in knowing how much power is required to generate that much thrust.

[Skywise]

The fact that he can’t explain how the drive works in plain English but has to dance around it with technobabble as “new fundamental force” and “electrostatic pressures” automatically makes me think this is a con.

Also the use of the word “drive” and not “engine”.

If anything it sounds like they’re electrifying a plate of some sort and getting it to vibrate in harmonics which would give it a certain “lift” but I doubt would never get any amount of weight nothing more than a few mm off the ground.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Dr. Charles Buhler, a NASA engineer

[zipper]

“The Direct Conversion of Electrical Energy into Physical Thrust”

Oh no, battery-powered rockets. How many charging-station stops will the rocket have to make to get into orbit?

[sasquatch]

My shoes are good for 1 g. Almost there!

[NetAddicted]

Read later.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

One of two options will play out here:

Either the government has deemed us peasants ready for this disclosure and it is now necessary for some long-planned event; OR

The government swoops in to confiscate the device and research while the key scientists “suddenly” turn up missing or dead.

Just depends upon the participation of Dr. Buehler and pals with the government (are they in on the con or have they truly stumbled upon something that the powers that be do not want in the zeitgheist).

[Revel]

Let me know when they actually put this to use. Until then I am very reserved. If this is so doable then why haven’t they actually propelled something up up and away.

[Olog-hai]

Buhler? Buhler? Buhler . . . ?

[NewHampshireDuo]

Here’s the link to the 2010 patent grant.
https://patents.justia.com/patent/7936097