But then they undid that.
Posted on 01/05/2006 8:42:46 AM PST by jbwbubba
AN EXTRAORDINARY "hyperspace" engine that could make interstellar space travel a reality by flying into other dimensions is being investigated by the United States government.
The hypothetical device, which has been outlined in principle but is based on a controversial theory about the fabric of the universe, could potentially allow a spacecraft to travel to Mars in three hours and journey to a star 11 light years away in just 80 days, according to a report in today's New Scientist magazine.
The theoretical engine works by creating an intense magnetic field that, according to ideas first developed by the late scientist Burkhard Heim in the 1950s, would produce a gravitational field and result in thrust for a spacecraft.
Also, if a large enough magnetic field was created, the craft would slip into a different dimension, where the speed of light is faster, allowing incredible speeds to be reached. Switching off the magnetic field would result in the engine reappearing in our current dimension.
The US air force has expressed an interest in the idea and scientists working for the American Department of Energy - which has a device known as the Z Machine that could generate the kind of magnetic fields required to drive the engine - say they may carry out a test if the theory withstands further scrutiny.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.scotsman.com ...
Calling Dr. Brown...Dr Emmit Brown...Your needed in Area 51, Stat.
And you know that the connection will have you walking from A terminal to B terminal.
All I know is they better be serving more than just darn peanuts.
I still believe Einstein's theory of relativity.
From Dan Cooper's referred article (post #34):
"There is nothing wrong with Einstein's theory of relativity. If the energy of an object is much smaller than 1019 proton masses or if the distance between two objects is smaller than millions of light-years, Einstein's equations are still valid," he says. [scientists who claim speed of light is frequency-dependent]
**BTW, their claims are still unproven**
I like to dream too, but let's be realistic when it comes to science. Until somebody conclusively proves that Einstein's upper limit (speed of light) is wrong, I'll trust The Theory of Relativity.
But then they undid that.
That's the ultimate concept, but we are already using chemical processes to produce nanoparticle that have a wide variety of material and industrial uses.
I'll be impressed about Government capabilities with advanced science when they can design a shuttle that doesn't disintegrate once every 70 launches, or when Amtrak can make the trains run on time.
Even without blackholes the speed of light is not the same in all media. It's slower in glass for example than in air, and slightly slower in air than in a vacuum.
But that doesn't change the notion that the speed of light, in a vacuum, is constant regardless of the relative motion of the source and observer and the related notion that the speed of light in a vacuum is the "speed limit" for everything.
Unless the field acts on the ship and everything in it. Then you wouldn't notice, because every atom and molecule in your body would be undergoing the same acceleration. Tidal effects could be a problem if their is some sort of gradient in the field, and there likely would be, at least near the edges.
Have you evr read the Asimov story titled, "The Martian Way"?
The drive system of the day was a nuclear powered steam drive utilizing a reactor and a large tank of water. Earth was able to hold sway over the Martian colonies because Earth had all the water.
Until, the water started to run out. What the Martian people did was to mount one last, desperate mission to Saturn and carved out a huge piece of water ice from one of the rings and hauled it back to Mars orbit where they offered to sell it to the Earthers for an exhorbitant amout of money. Very funny little short story.
Not a what, but a who. All the old fogey engineers, engineering managers, and just managers in general. But as to which current ideas will see fruition in 30 or 100 years, well if I knew that, it might not be 30 years, now would it. It might be that it would take that long for the ideas to be worked out in full and then accepted, or it might be that they can't be implemented with current technology, but with some other as yet unknown theory, or with a need in some other area, the technology might be available in 30 or 100 years.
As long as it's physically possible, it will get done, someday, by someone. Although economics could put that day way way into the future.
Special or General?
BTTT
Had the same thought. ;-)
I seem to recall that Einstein published his papers about 40 years before the first man-made nuclear chain reaction.
Most new technologies seem to take several decades between theoretical and practical application.
It better be made by Boeing, I ain't sinking the price of a ticket on that Eurotrash Airbus. lol.
Isn't it a fact that we have discovered particles that travel faster than the speed of light . Was it muons ??? I read it somewhere but can't confirm.
I think it was klintons, when placed within a certain radius of the electrical field of a TV camera.
Yes it is...
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