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Thrust from Microwaves - The Relativity Drive

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the yay-for-science dept.

dfenstrate writes "The latest New Scientist has an article about an engine that exploits relativity and microwaves to generate thrust. There is a working prototype." From the article: "Roger Shawyer has developed an engine with no moving parts that he believes can replace rockets and make trains, planes and automobiles obsolete ... The device that has sparked their interest is an engine that generates thrust purely from electromagnetic radiation — microwaves to be precise — by exploiting the strange properties of relativity. It has no moving parts, and releases no exhaust or noxious emissions. Potentially, it could pack the punch of a rocket in a box the size of a suitcase. It could one day replace the engines on almost any spacecraft. More advanced versions might allow cars to lift from the ground and hover."

7 of 567 comments (clear)

  1. a bit more advanced by User+956 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "The latest New Scientist has an article about an engine that exploits relativity and microwaves to generate thrust.

    That sounds a bit more advanced than these two guys, who exploit explosives and a microwave to generate thrust.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  2. Aditional Features by celardore · · Score: 5, Funny

    It also warms soup, and is great for reheating food.

  3. attempt #2 by User+956 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Roger Shawyer has developed an engine with no moving parts that he believes can replace rockets and make trains, planes and automobiles obsolete ... The device that has sparked their interest is an engine that generates thrust purely from electromagnetic radiation

    Of course, his first effort was to create a drive that ran purely on improbability, but you could never be sure where you'd end up or even what species you'd be when you get there.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    1. Re:attempt #2 by Jhon · · Score: 5, Funny

      Heisenberg gets stopped by a cop for speeding.

      "Do you have any idea how fast you were going?", asks the cop.

      "No. But I know exactly where I am!"

  4. Re:Forgetting some things? by jonnyelectronic · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think you're forgetting that it involves relativity, therefore doesn't need to make sense. Plus I seem to remember that conservation of momentum was a by product of that 4-vector thing, so maybe something funny happens. Maybe.

  5. Oblig comment by QuantumFTL · · Score: 5, Funny

    "In this house we obey the Laws of Conservation of Momentum!"

  6. Awesome! by LewsKinslayer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now I can have what I've always dreamed of, a flying car with a Phantom game console running Duke Nuke'em Forever on HURD with Copland running in virtualization on a BitBoys Oy Glaze3D graphics system whose driver was programmed in Perl 6 running on top of Parrot!

    I love it when dreams come true.