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Quantum Setback For Warp Drives

KentuckyFC writes "Warp drives were generally considered impossible by mainstream scientists until 1994 when the physicist Michael Alcubierre worked out how to build a faster-than-light drive using the principles of general relativity. His thinking was that while relativity prevents faster-than-light travel relative to the fabric of spacetime, it places no restriction on the speed at which regions of spacetime may move relative to each other. So a small bubble of spacetime containing a spacecraft could travel faster than the speed of light, at least in principle. But one unanswered question was what happens to the bubble when quantum mechanics is taken into account. Now, a team of physicists have worked it out, and it's bad news: the bubble becomes unstable at superluminal speeds, making warp drives impossible (probably)."

2 of 627 comments (clear)

  1. stablization mechanism exists by JungleBoy · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    The Protoss were very familiar with the warp field instability problem. And they obviously overcame them so it's just a matter of time until we do too.

    Why else would an Arbiter say, "Warp Field Stabilized" every time you click on him?

    --
    "You never know when some crazed rodent with cold feet might be running loose in your pants."
    -Calvin
  2. Re:Hiesenberg says.... by inerlogic · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    screw him....
    i was 7 years old at the supermarket (no less) with my mom.... and saw superman waiting in line at the supermarket (it was confusing because he didn't have the cape and tights... but he wasn't wearing glasses....) and i asked him for an autograph and the bastard was all "sorry kid, i don't have the time"

    after the accident i felt like writing him a letter, "bet you wish you could sign an autograph now ya bastard -signed supermarket kid you turned down 25 years ago"

    but i figured that'd be a one way trip to hell... so i fought the urge.....

    he was still an ass though....