So, how many think warp speed travel could one day be a reality?
If so, you might be interested in an article in Popular Mechanics that claims “Humans are one step closer to traveling at faster-than-light speeds.”
The article references a certain theoretical physicist named Miguel Alcubierre who contends that “motion faster than the speed of light … is possible.”
However, some seem to feel this is an unlikely event because:
[A}n Alcubierre drive would expend a tremendous amount of energy—likely more than what’s available within the universe—to contract and twist space-time in front of it and create a bubble.
And some scientists have criticized the Alcubierre drive because …
it requires too much mass and negative energy for humans to ever seriously construct a warp-based propulsion system.
However, there is a new study in which some scientists offer the following:
Where the existing paradigm uses negative energy—exotic matter that doesn’t exist and can’t be generated within our current understanding of the universe—this new concept uses floating bubbles of spacetime rather than floating ships in spacetime.
The article closes thus:
[W]hile a physical drive may not be a reality today, tomorrow, or even a century from now—let’s hope it’s not that long—with this exciting new model, warp speed travel is now a lot more likely in a much shorter timespan than we previously thought.
If all this seems like Greek to you, you’re not alone. But I think there’s enough in the article to challenge those who believe our future is “in the stars.”
ADDENDUM
If you’re unable to access the Popular Mechanics article, try this: : Scientists-announce-a-physical-warp-drive-is-now-possible-seriously
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