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A new model for faster-than-light travel that uses conventional physics

popularmechanics.com

21–30 of 168 posts

Re: A new model for faster-than-light travel that uses conventional physics

#23
post #16
post #10

Not when the system requires energy equivalent to many Jupiters. To create a useful system you'd need to consume a Sun-sized star of mass on a monthly basis. We aren't there and honestly I don't see us ever being there.

My feeling is that interstellar travel will be slow and require many generations of travelers -- or not done by human beings at all.

Which is easier? 1) Faster than light travel. 2) Extend lifetimes so 1) doesn't matter.

Re: A new model for faster-than-light travel that uses conventional physics

#24
post #13

I just went upstairs and moved closer to the sun.

Depends on the time of day.

Actually it doesn't. The difference between perihelion and aphelion is around 6 million km, and it takes approximately 6 months to cover.

That means Earth is moving away or towards the sun at 1 million km per month. That's 33,000 km per day. So 1300 km/h or so? Basically unless you're really fast, climbing the stairs is overwhelmed by other effects.

Haven't taken the Earth's rotation into account but it should be less of an effect.

Re: A new model for faster-than-light travel that uses conventional physics

#25
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My feeling is that interstellar travel will be slow and require many generations of travelers -- or not done by human beings at all.

Which is easier? 1) Faster than light travel. 2) Extend lifetimes so 1) doesn't matter.

Given that human beings are very successful at breeding, I don't see the point of extending lifetimes so space can be explored by geriatric astronauts.

Re: A new model for faster-than-light travel that uses conventional physics

#27
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is easier? 1) Faster than light travel. 2) Extend lifetimes so 1) doesn't matter.

Given that human beings are very successful at breeding, I don't see the point of extending lifetimes so space can be explored by geriatric astronauts.

The problem with that is you don't know how willing the next generation is willing to continue carrying out the mission.

Re: A new model for faster-than-light travel that uses conventional physics

#29
I remember a time when you could find out how a rotary engine worked from Popular Mechanics. Now I can find out how to raise the dead just by building a Dyson Sphere. How primitive and backwards we were in the 20th century!

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a35788050/dyson-sph...

Re: A new model for faster-than-light travel that uses conventional physics

#30
What's your opinion on this? Do you believe we are ready for such technology? Imagine at our current state of global politics are we ready to start venturing into space and possibly into planets with life? And I'm not even considering possibilities of Intelligent life.
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