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Anti-Gravity Device Patented

October_30th writes "According to the United States Patent Office website, Boris Volfson has recently patented a "Space vehicle propelled by the pressure of inflationary vacuum state", which is essentially an anti-gravity propulsion device." The validity of this patent remains to be seen, but the general consensus of the physics community seems to be that it is complete malarky.

8 of 416 comments (clear)

  1. The real question by ThatGeek · · Score: 5, Funny

    The real question is how can I, as an inventor, patent my time machine?

    I mean, anyone can just go back in time with my intention and claim my patent!! WTF??

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    What are you eating? isItVeg?.
  2. Nonsense... by moviepig.com · · Score: 5, Funny


    It's well-known that the only true anti-gravity device is a (Score:5, Funny)

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    Seeing bad movies only encourages them. Watch responsibly
  3. I'll tell you... by complete+malarky · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...what I keep telling the scientists, this device has nothing to do with me!

  4. Star Trek Anyone? by Zebra_X · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you read the patent text he's basically describing the warp drive from star trek.

    "whereby providing for the gravitational imbalance such that the lowered pressure of inflationary vacuum state is pulling said space vehicle forward in modified spacetime."

    interesting i guess.

    in normal fashion both slashdot and the reporting news outlet have got it all wrong. it's not a perpetual motion machine - becuase it requires input of a nuclear reactor to make it "go". It's no more a perpetual motion machine than a space probe launched from earth.

    nor is this "anti gravity". the patent describes a device that will "modify" space time such that an area of "low pressure vacuum" and "high pressure vacuum" are created. the low pressure area is infront of the ship and the high pressure is behind the ship. the ship travels forward because it's caught in the middle. i guess.

    not a physics major.

  5. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  6. Jabberwocky! by The+Amazing+Fish+Boy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We all know that the only real anti-gravity device is a (Score:5, Insightful)

  7. Doesn't a physical patent need a working prototype by rdean400 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Since when is it good practice for any Patent Office to issue patents based on conjecture? There should be a valid working prototype before any patent is issued. Software patents are bad enough, but speculative patents are total b.s.

  8. Re:I have an idea that actually works by saifatlast · · Score: 5, Funny

    I just tried that, and it totally doesn't work. My cat's dead now thanks to you. DEAD!! I'm suing you for emotional anguish!

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    note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't regist