I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Warp Factor 5, Engage!

Yes, Virginia, there is a Warp Drive. Based on the theoretical work of Michael Alcubierre, and if M Theory (aka String Theory) as currently described is correct it is possible to create a "warp bubble," or wing, and slide along space time at speed faster than light.

Of course there's several problems with implementation. One, we don't know how to manipulate the three standardly accepted dimensions, let alone the extra dimensions necessary in M Theory. So "magic" will have to happen here. And the calculated energy needed to change those dimensions is a serious hurdle.

But hey, we now have the white paper. So that stage is done. They'll leave all those pesky engineering details to someone else.

Two money shots of the article:
"'These calculations are based on some arbitrary advance in technology or some alien technology that would let us manipulate the extra dimension,' said Cleaver."

The scientists estimate the energy necessary to create the warp bubble is about 10^45 joules. "'That's... (the) energy you'd get if you converted the entire mass of Jupiter into pure energy... ,' said Cleaver."

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