Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Boeing Joins In Anti-Gravity Search

Posted by timothy on from the believe-what-you-will dept.

SimcoFrappe writes: "BBC News reports that Boeing is trying to extend the research of Russian scientist Dr. Yevgeny Podkletnov to develop a device to shield against gravity. The military branch of the British BAe Systems announced a similar program in 2000. One step closer to cheap space travel or just more sci-fi jive?"

4 of 503 comments (clear)

  1. Worth it by drunkmonk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So Boeing spends a few million, finds the guys research is bunk and discards the project? No problem, they're a multi-billion dollar company.

    But... if on the off chance that it really works and could be used in commercial projects and could bring billions (trillions?) in sales and licensing royalties...

    Seems like a worthwhile risk to me.

  2. Its not THAT Unbelievable by hooded1 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm sure alot of you will first respond by saying thats impossible. But you're wrong. There are no laws of physics that say its is impossible to block gravity. At this point we no so litle about gravity that it is difficult to make any conclusions about it.
    Some elementary electromagnetism courses will teach you about faraday cages, which block electromagnetic radiation. Pretty much everyone has experienced this. Ever walk into a concrete building and lose cell phone reception? This is because the concrete is reinforced with steel bars which form a kind of metalic cage around you, this is a faraday cage.
    Now like electromagnetism, gravity is one of the four fundamental forces. If we can create a shield to block one of them why not block gravity?

    --
    A rabbit in the hand is worth 4 in the cage
  3. The Gravity Stone by kisrael · · Score: 4, Interesting

    My alma mater has a monument to this forthcoming breakthrough, placed by Roger W Babson (of Babson College). It's called the Gravity Stone and it's "to remind students of the blessings forthcoming when a semi-insulator is discovered in order to harness gravity as a free power and reduce airplane accidents" Kinda kooky stuff, check the link.

    --
    SO YOU'RE GOING TO DIE: The Comic for Dealing with Death
  4. Re:Or maybe it *is* that unbelievable by colmore · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Gravitons are a nice way of satisfying a few equations, but they don't really fit in the standard model and have never been even indirectly observed.

    I suspect that gravitons are the particle representation of quantum physicists' inability to think of things other than particles.

    Hmmm... that probably sounded like more of a flame than it should have. It's really one of those "when you have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail" things.

    --
    In Capitalist America, bank robs you!