Warp Drive May Be More Feasible Than Thought, Scientists Say

SPACE.com ^ | 2012-09-17 | Clara Moskowitz

[DannyTN]

"Ok, but what happens to everybody and everything between NYC and Nashville. There has to be some consequence to bending space."

You probably wouldn't bend occupied space like my New York/Nashville example. You'd bend empty space. I believe the way this warp drive works is it repeatedly bends space in front of it. If it bent half a mile of empty space at a time allowing it to pass through in just a few feet. You'd still have an incredible speed.

[NonValueAdded]

Just use Dilithium crystals, problem solved. I dinna understand the confusion.
Love, Scotty

[Red Badger]

Good.

I want one.

Gotta emigrate to another star system where the economic laws are sane..............

[Dead Corpse]

Look at it this way...

What kind of energy densities are we talking about that would give the desired warping effect? How would you channel the energy through a material in a way that it not only forms a bubble, it forms it where you want it and without converting itself to plasma under the discharge...

Once you have the theory, backed up with proof of concept experiments, the rest is just a numbers game.

[ModelBreaker]

“I’m guessing that that “exotic matter” would be along the lines of unicorns that have been ground up and put through an atomic accelerator or some such.”

Obama should have the unicorns ready for warp-drive use in less than a week. It would be sooner, but they’ll be busy for the next few days lowering the oceans, healing the planet, and restoring the faith of the Muslim world in America.

There could be an issue with PETA though. They don’t have to grind the unicorns up to heal the planet—that gets done with NO ANIMAL CRUELTY.

[Izzy Dunne]

It's like bending the earth so that New York City is suddenly next to Nashville.

But what if you do that while I'm bending it to get from Cincinnati to Myrtle Beach?

Who wins?

[Starstruck]

I'm guessing that that "exotic matter" would be along the lines of unicorns that have been ground up and put through an atomic accelerator or some such..

7 elements have been added to the periodic chart since I went to school. None have involved "ground up unicorns". That being said, I think we will probably hit a SHTF scenario long before warp drives come into existence.

[Renderofveils]

I see you’ve met the Democrat Party.

If you can get the dead out to vote, everything else is a cakewalk. ;)

[DannyTN]

"But what if you do that while I'm bending it to get from Cincinnati to Myrtle Beach? Who wins?"

Well if you do that there is a good chance that Myrtle beach will end up next to Nashville. And New York next to Cincinnati.

And then won't you feel stupid for not waiting.

[DannyTN]

"But what if you do that while I'm bending it to get from Cincinnati to Myrtle Beach? Who wins?"

Well if you do that there is a good chance that Myrtle beach will end up next to Nashville. And New York next to Cincinnati.

And then won't you feel stupid for not waiting.

[DannyTN]

And I really only posted once, but it took two quantum paths that arrived 18 seconds apart.

[gymbeau]

“Warp Drive May Be More Feasible Than Thought, Scientists Say”

Makes sense. I’ve lived long enough to know that conscious thought isn’t particular feasible when it comes to many people.

cheers,
Jim

[gymbeau]

Oops! “Particularly”.

So much for conscious thought, LOL!

cheers,
Jim

[fella]

There's always some kind of motorhead that will find a way to adjust the spark gap, aspiration rate, gear ratio or whatever to get some more oooumph out of any machine.

[Oberon]

As an alternative, it can be built from an upsidaisium composite.

[Pontiac]

seriously... you wouldn’t warp space anywhere near a planet or even within the solar system ideally.

Good point

Starting your warp drive inside the solar system where there are lots of uncharted asteroids could be hazardous to your health.

But on the other hand if you wait on getting out of the solar system to start your warp drive you could be waiting 15 years to start your interstellar journey if you travel at normal impulse power.

And if you wait till you exit the Ort cloud region you will be waiting considerably longer.

I guess we need to invent the deflector shield before we start using warp drive.

[lwoodham]

Um, sure. I'm guessing that that "exotic matter" would be along the lines of unicorns that have been ground up and put through an atomic accelerator or some such. It has been a long time since I read any science fiction.

We already know the exotic material it takes...Dilithium Crystals!

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

A warp drive would manipulate space-time itself to move a starship, taking advantage of a loophole in the laws of physics that prevent anything from moving faster than light.

IOW, you don't just need physicists for this -- you need space lawyers. Astrophysicists can only do so much, without astrojurists around to exploit loopholes in the laws of physics.

[catfish1957]

Count me in if there is a Vulcan on the ship named T’Pol.

[justlurking]

IOW, you don't just need physicists for this -- you need space lawyers.

[puts on my moonbat hat]

No, you just have to hire Romney's accountant!

The evil rich don't have to obey the laws of physics. They take up all the space, but don't have to spend the time!