July 24, 2013
— Ace Some good news. Maybe we get to leave this POS planet.
Einstein famously postulated that, as Dr. White put it, “thou shalt not exceed the speed of light,” essentially setting a galactic speed limit. But in 1994, a Mexican physicist, Miguel Alcubierre, theorized that faster-than-light speeds were possible in a way that did not contradict Einstein, though Dr. Alcubierre did not suggest anyone could actually construct the engine that could accomplish that.
His theory involved harnessing the expansion and contraction of space itself. Under Dr. Alcubierre’s hypothesis, a ship still couldn’t exceed light speed in a local region of space. But a theoretical propulsion system he sketched out manipulated space-time by generating a so-called “warp bubble” that would expand space on one side of a spacecraft and contract it on another.
“In this way, the spaceship will be pushed away from the Earth and pulled towards a distant star by space-time itself,” Dr. Alcubierre wrote. Dr. White has likened it to stepping onto a moving walkway at an airport.
But Dr. Alcubierre’s paper was purely theoretical, and suggested insurmountable hurdles. Among other things, it depended on large amounts of a little understood or observed type of “exotic matter” that violates typical physical laws.
Dr. White believes that advances he and others have made render warp speed less implausible. Among other things, he has redesigned the theoretical warp-traveling spacecraft — and in particular a ring around it that is key to its propulsion system — in a way that he believes will greatly reduce the energy requirements.
He is quick to offer up his own caveats, however, saying his warp research is akin to a university science project that is just trying to prove that a microscopic warp bubble can be detected in a lab. ”We’re not bolting this to a spacecraft,” he said of the warp technology.
Dr. Alcubierre, meanwhile, doesn't believe this project will succeed at all, and in fact seems to think the method of transportation he argued was plausible is in fact implausible.
He's got a weird take: If you create a "front" of contracting spacetime in front of your vehicle, moving faster than the speed of light, well, you can never shut it off, because there is no signal/method of creation that can ever reach that front -- any energy or signal you're employing to control the front can only move at the speed of light, so the front will always be out of the grasp of your ship's controls.
In fact, that's the easier case to understand; he goes on to say that not only could you never have a signal/means of manipulation fast enough to turn the front off, you could also never have one fast enough to even turn it on.
Then again, he's a White Hispanic so, you know.
Posted by: Ace at
10:25 AM
| Comments (308)
Post contains 489 words, total size 3 kb.
Nobody can be certain that "exotic matter" doesn't exist, but until there's some evidence that it actually does, I wouldn't get too excited about this.
Posted by: sandy burger at July 24, 2013 10:30 AM (k0pNf)
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 24, 2013 10:30 AM (QIM4k)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 10:31 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: AndrewsDad at July 24, 2013 10:31 AM (C2//T)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 10:31 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at July 24, 2013 10:31 AM (evvGi)
Posted by: Danger, Carlos Danger - Agent Double O Naught at July 24, 2013 10:32 AM (Pr6hk)
If conservative americans of all stripes and backgrounds, researched and funded a way to move to planet zeta nine (or eight...wherever) and leave all the liberals here.....would they let us go? I think not.
Posted by: hobbes at July 24, 2013 10:32 AM (dfwJa)
Now, if you'll excuse me, LtK and I are off to buy more wine. *bounds*
Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD, you taunty bitch. at July 24, 2013 10:32 AM (Gk3SS)
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 24, 2013 10:32 AM (8ZskC)
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 24, 2013 10:32 AM (QIM4k)
MAN INVENTS WARP DRIVE THAT WILL NEVER EVER WORK!
Thanks journalism.
Posted by: Dr. Mr. Badman at July 24, 2013 10:32 AM (MlqTY)
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at July 24, 2013 10:32 AM (zF6Iw)
Posted by: Basic Cable Guy at July 24, 2013 10:33 AM (0vWqa)
Posted by: Bill from Chappaqua at July 24, 2013 10:33 AM (Pr6hk)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:33 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:33 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:34 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: Lt. Cmdr. Geordi LeForge at July 24, 2013 10:34 AM (6L3cG)
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at July 24, 2013 10:34 AM (8ZskC)
Posted by: RS at July 24, 2013 10:34 AM (YAGV/)
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 24, 2013 02:32 PM (QIM4k)
Set up a Home Depot next to NASA. It'll be a space program recruiting goldmine.
Posted by: Insomniac at July 24, 2013 10:34 AM (DrWcr)
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 24, 2013 10:34 AM (QIM4k)
Posted by: Capt. Kirk at July 24, 2013 10:35 AM (8ZskC)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:35 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:35 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: Barky McBamastain at July 24, 2013 10:35 AM (Pr6hk)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 10:36 AM (GQ8sn)
First we have to re-configure the Main Deflector to emit an inverse tachyon beam.
Posted by: Ensign Waterhouse at July 24, 2013 10:36 AM (uYaYO)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:36 AM (+98Gb)
It is just as important - if not MORE important - to prove that something cannot work as it is to prove that something can.
That way, future scientists will not spend precious research time/money trying to find out the same thing.
Then again, once something has been proven not to work, if some groundbreaking technology is developed in the future, those "Can't work" theories can be dusted off and the new information applied to them.
I once spent a day doing research into something on our house's history and at the end of the day found myself quite frustrated - felt like I had "wasted" an entire day with nothing to show for it.
Then I realized that wasn't true at all - I had found a whole lot of "paths" that I wasn't going to have to spend any more time on.
I realized that was VERY valuable information to have..... :-)
Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, TX at July 24, 2013 10:36 AM (ADnWI)
It's amazing the things you can do with some imagination, a backpack blower and a little duct tape.
Posted by: garrett at July 24, 2013 10:36 AM (6L3cG)
Obama: "I willl not allow gridlock, inaction, or willful indifference to get in our way" - @mpoindc
(Newest version of "I'm from the govt and I'm here to help."
Posted by: Meremortal at July 24, 2013 10:36 AM (1Y+hH)
Posted by: somebody else, not me at July 24, 2013 10:36 AM (29vnO)
Posted by: Reggie Love at July 24, 2013 10:37 AM (Pr6hk)
Posted by: zombie at July 24, 2013 10:37 AM (+cx5n)
Posted by: Sgt Snuggle Bunny at July 24, 2013 10:37 AM (R1/GL)
Posted by: Vic at July 24, 2013 10:37 AM (lZvxr)
>>> First we have to re-configure the Main Deflector to emit an inverse tachyon beam.
Can we do that with AtC drawing half the main power through the Holodeck?
Posted by: garrett at July 24, 2013 10:38 AM (6L3cG)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:38 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:38 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: Barry O'Bama at July 24, 2013 10:38 AM (ECoxZ)
Posted by: Cato at July 24, 2013 10:38 AM (KJnit)
Posted by: Vic at July 24, 2013 02:37 PM (lZvxr)
We got this.
Posted by: Hoover at July 24, 2013 10:38 AM (DrWcr)
shut your poop mouth, all that comes out of your mouth is poop, poopie, you're a poopie mouth
Posted by: ace at July 24, 2013 10:38 AM (/IWYB)
Posted by: WalrusRex at July 24, 2013 10:38 AM (R7urn)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:38 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: supercore at July 24, 2013 10:39 AM (bwV72)
*cough* QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT *cough*
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at July 24, 2013 10:39 AM (spjFk)
Posted by: Cpn Kirk blows his lines worse than Neil Armstrong at July 24, 2013 10:39 AM (ccXZP)
Posted by: RS at July 24, 2013 02:38 PM (YAGV/)
Technically it's a Theory.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 10:39 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Barry O'Bama at July 24, 2013 10:39 AM (ECoxZ)
@38
It's kinda like how we found 39 WDs that didn't work before we got to 40. Moving mankind along.
Posted by: Jollyroger at July 24, 2013 10:39 AM (t06LC)
Posted by: Barry O'Bama at July 24, 2013 10:40 AM (ECoxZ)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:40 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: RS at July 24, 2013 10:40 AM (YAGV/)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 10:40 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 10:40 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Eton Cox at July 24, 2013 10:41 AM (q177U)
Yeah...and I still have no fuggin clue what any of this means. Damn rocket scientologists.
Posted by: dananjcon at July 24, 2013 10:41 AM (jvd3N)
The law says you can't enter the country without a valid visa too. Your point?
Posted by: Eric Holder at July 24, 2013 10:41 AM (8ZskC)
@55
Kinda what I was thinking unless the warp is moving so fast that once started it doesn't know its off.
Fuck. Mind blown.
Posted by: Jollyroger at July 24, 2013 10:41 AM (t06LC)
Posted by: eleven at July 24, 2013 10:41 AM (KXm42)
Posted by: Tami[/i][/b][/u][/s] at July 24, 2013 10:41 AM (X6akg)
Posted by: Scottie at July 24, 2013 10:42 AM (wtvvX)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at July 24, 2013 10:42 AM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Overdone SciFi/Fantasy Tropes at July 24, 2013 10:43 AM (/PCJa)
Now, if you'll excuse me, LtK and I are off to buy more wine. *bounds*
Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD, you taunty bitch. at July 24, 2013 02:32 PM (Gk3SS)
I'd be happy with just a sexbot. You'd think they'd be on the assembly line by now.
Bounds?
Zounds!
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at July 24, 2013 10:43 AM (zF6Iw)
Posted by: Cato at July 24, 2013 10:43 AM (KJnit)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:43 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: flounder at July 24, 2013 10:43 AM (Kkt/i)
Posted by: Minnfidel (D) So Now I can do what I want! at July 24, 2013 10:43 AM (vWlST)
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 10:44 AM (kXoT0)
Posted by: Anthony Weiner Mk II at July 24, 2013 10:44 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: HoboJerky, now with 56% more DOOM! at July 24, 2013 10:44 AM (09o/X)
Posted by: Carlos Danger at July 24, 2013 10:44 AM (Kkt/i)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:44 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: zombie at July 24, 2013 10:44 AM (+cx5n)
Posted by: Anthony Weiner at July 24, 2013 10:44 AM (DrWcr)
28 COME ON.
COME ON.
COME ON.
LET'S GO SPACE TRUCKIN'!!!
Posted by: Tex Lovera at July 24, 2013 02:34 PM (wtvvX)
Are you a space cowboy, Tex? I'm sure you know where it's at.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at July 24, 2013 10:44 AM (zF6Iw)
Posted by: Minnfidel (D) So Now I can do what I want! at July 24, 2013 10:45 AM (vWlST)
Nobody can be certain that "exotic matter" doesn't exist, but until there's some evidence that it actually does, I wouldn't get too excited about this.
*inserts pocket protector*
NASA scientists discovered something by accident a few years back: they were doing some computin' for something and trying to figure out the volume inside an atom, or something similar. They kept getting an absurdly high number. They recalibrated everything and ran the tests again, and still got the same high number.
This led them to theorize that what was previously thought of as a vacuum inside an atom actually contains a vast amount of energy, but we don't have any method to measure it. Not sure what it's called, I've heard the term Dark Matter bandied about, but every reference I've seen of that term talks about stars. That leads me to think it's not the same thing.
Any sciency-type Morons heard about this and can put me to some knowledge?
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at July 24, 2013 10:45 AM (0HooB)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:45 AM (/PCJa)
@89
Cato, Cato. Don't be so short sighted. They can't have this antheap either. They must be destroyed or like a tumor they will return.
Raise the flag for no quarter, for they shall not give it to us.
Posted by: Jollyroger at July 24, 2013 10:45 AM (t06LC)
meh.. I prefer wormholes instead, anyways.. just my preferred way of travel.
Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at July 24, 2013 10:45 AM (f9c2L)
Posted by: Anthony Weiner at July 24, 2013 02:44 PM.....Dude, nothing is that fast O.K.
Posted by: Minnfidel (D) So Now I can do what I want! at July 24, 2013 10:45 AM (vWlST)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:45 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: Steve Miller at July 24, 2013 10:45 AM (DrWcr)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at July 24, 2013 10:45 AM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Sandy MacPherson at July 24, 2013 10:46 AM (RD7QR)
Posted by: supercore at July 24, 2013 10:46 AM (bwV72)
Posted by: Mike Hammer at July 24, 2013 10:46 AM (aDwsi)
Posted by: Comrade Arthur at July 24, 2013 10:47 AM (5YUSx)
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 24, 2013 10:47 AM (QIM4k)
Just give the overhead console a good whack.
Posted by: Han Solo at July 24, 2013 10:47 AM (uYaYO)
-----
Say it all you want....
Posted by: Mike Hammer at July 24, 2013 10:47 AM (aDwsi)
Posted by: dananjcon at July 24, 2013 10:47 AM (jvd3N)
Posted by: GnuBreed at July 24, 2013 10:47 AM (ccXZP)
Posted by: Roy at July 24, 2013 10:47 AM (VndSC)
74 J.J. Sefton:
>> I only read the comments. What's this post about?
ObamaCare.
Posted by: sandy burger at July 24, 2013 02:41 PM (k0pNf)
Are we for it or against it?
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 02:44 PM (+98Gb)
Whatever helps us keep our phoney-baloney jobs! Harrumph! Harrumph! Harrumph!
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at July 24, 2013 10:48 AM (zF6Iw)
Posted by: CSMBigBird at July 24, 2013 10:48 AM (jsWA8)
On a related note, I just finished Ender's Game. Awesome book. Ace should review it.
Having said that, I want to see the movie but it frightens me. Imagine a film where the entire cast was Anakin from the Phantom Menace. Wizard.
Posted by: Jollyroger at July 24, 2013 10:48 AM (t06LC)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:48 AM (+98Gb)
You want the Sandy Fluke or the Meggie Mac model? That's as brainless as we have so far. We hope to emulate Mooch's sultry sullenness, but, that may be just impossible.
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 10:48 AM (kXoT0)
Hey, anybody remember that TOS episode where this god-like being put the Enterprise in a block of clear plastic stuff with a cheap chain attached and he was, like, holding it over a fire and Kirk was all NOOOOOOO?
Yeah, I don't know where I was going with that but I think this warpdrive could work there if'n there was no plastic-y chain stuff.
Posted by: Bigby's Channel-changing Fingers at July 24, 2013 10:48 AM (3ZtZW)
Posted by: eleven at July 24, 2013 10:49 AM (KXm42)
Posted by: Cato at July 24, 2013 10:49 AM (KJnit)
Posted by: Phinn at July 24, 2013 10:49 AM (aZrqG)
Posted by: WalrusRex at July 24, 2013 02:38 PM (R7urn)
Talk about worthless pursuits.
Posted by: Carlos Danger at July 24, 2013 10:49 AM (Kkt/i)
Posted by: Roy at July 24, 2013 10:49 AM (VndSC)
Posted by: Buzzion at July 24, 2013 10:49 AM (QRve+)
Can I just say that I hope the Unions get it good and hard?
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 02:45 PM (/PCJa)
Dude, I've already broken Nearsider's bunk, like, three times.
(He's not here, you pervs! His place was closer than mine, that's all.)
Anyway, he's going to be pissed when he gets back and sees his stuff all shattered like this. And what am I going to say? "I couldn't control myself because I fucking hate unions and want them to suffer?"
So please warn me before you say awesome things like this, about unions getting asspounded like Bradley Manning in a PMITA prison, okay? Thanks.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 10:49 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:50 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: Sean Bannion at July 24, 2013 10:50 AM (EOzVV)
Posted by: Zombie Douglas Adams at July 24, 2013 10:50 AM (/Crba)
Posted by: Steve Miller at July 24, 2013 10:50 AM (DrWcr)
Posted by: Bigby's Channel-changing Fingers at July 24, 2013 10:50 AM (3ZtZW)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at July 24, 2013 10:51 AM (ZPrif)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:51 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 10:51 AM (WRnYo)
Posted by: bonhomme at July 24, 2013 10:51 AM (44jNh)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 10:51 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: polynikes at July 24, 2013 10:51 AM (m2CN7)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:52 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at July 24, 2013 10:52 AM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at July 24, 2013 02:52 PM (brmsw)
I told you we needed amnesty!
Posted by: John McCain at July 24, 2013 10:52 AM (DrWcr)
A real warp drive will need more energy to work than exists in the universe right now, but Obama has a green energy initiative to solve that problem.
Algae doooood.
Posted by: El Choom Preezy at July 24, 2013 10:52 AM (BrQrN)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 10:52 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:53 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: CSMBigBird at July 24, 2013 10:53 AM (jsWA8)
Posted by: Sean Bannion at July 24, 2013 10:53 AM (EOzVV)
Posted by: Erich Holder's inner demons at July 24, 2013 10:53 AM (k4bdL)
Posted by: Dan at July 24, 2013 10:53 AM (bxp5Z)
Posted by: Spank the Monkey at July 24, 2013 10:53 AM (uRumV)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 10:53 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:53 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: Guild Navigator Roger Ebert at July 24, 2013 10:53 AM (CJjw5)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:54 AM (/PCJa)
Hey, anybody remember that TOS episode where this god-like being put the Enterprise in a block of clear plastic stuff with a cheap chain attached and he was, like, holding it over a fire and Kirk was all NOOOOOOO?
"Catspaw," I think.
You want the Sandy Fluke or the Meggie Mac model? That's as brainless as we have so far. We hope to emulate Mooch's sultry sullenness, but, that may be just impossible.
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 02:48 PM (kXoT0)
Tough choice. You know the Flukebot can set the land speed record for getting naked, but those armor-plated spirochetes in the old vajayjay are a problem. On the other hand, the Megbot has ginormous cans, but the odor of Twinkies, Teen Spirit and Skinny Girl vodka is a turnoff.
Can't I just have my Dita von Teesebot in an Alice in Wonderland costume?
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at July 24, 2013 10:54 AM (zF6Iw)
Posted by: (Not) Orson Scott Card at July 24, 2013 10:54 AM (/Crba)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:54 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 10:54 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: Tami[/i][/b][/u][/s] at July 24, 2013 10:55 AM (X6akg)
Posted by: Sean Bannion at July 24, 2013 10:55 AM (EOzVV)
Posted by: baldilocks at July 24, 2013 10:55 AM (KUvq2)
Seriously
Posted by: Pingree at July 24, 2013 10:56 AM (Xv7f/)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:56 AM (+98Gb)
A faster than light Mexican who violates physical laws comes out of the shadows.
-----------------------------
These Spacebacks show up outta nowhere, but then again, who else are you going to get to blow the Rigellian space leaves off your landing pad?
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 24, 2013 10:56 AM (CJjw5)
Posted by: Carlos Danger at July 24, 2013 10:56 AM (fWAjv)
Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at July 24, 2013 10:56 AM (/Crba)
Posted by: eleven at July 24, 2013 10:56 AM (KXm42)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:56 AM (/PCJa)
Except that the statist shitbags would inevitably have access to the technology, too...and would spread their bullshit to the stars.
Posted by: Stu-22 at July 24, 2013 10:57 AM (k4bdL)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:57 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 10:57 AM (WRnYo)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at July 24, 2013 10:57 AM (ZPrif)
***
I think somebody already has. How else do you explain Weiner sending dick pix destroying his career for a second time of Filthy Filener speaking to victims of sex assault
Posted by: WalrusRex at July 24, 2013 10:57 AM (Hx5uv)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 10:57 AM (GQ8sn)
>>>These Spacebacks show up outta nowhere, but then again, who else are you going to get to blow the Rigellian space leaves off your landing pad?
Can we start calling them "illegal aliens" again?
Posted by: Roy at July 24, 2013 10:57 AM (VndSC)
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at July 24, 2013 10:57 AM (+98Gb)
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at July 24, 2013 10:58 AM (zF6Iw)
Posted by: DRayRaven at July 24, 2013 10:58 AM (9YRwm)
Posted by: eleven at July 24, 2013 10:58 AM (KXm42)
In related news, today the Detroit City Council passed a resolution calling for a federal civil rights prosecution of George Zimmerman.
Seriously
We passed that news nugget earlier at Warp 9.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at July 24, 2013 10:58 AM (0HooB)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 10:58 AM (WRnYo)
Ok, now I've got the mental image of Ebert as a navigator and Siskel as one of the guys in the black outfits who "escorts" the navigator to see the Emperor.
----------------
I was thinking mostly that they shared the same flappy vagina-mouth.
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 24, 2013 10:58 AM (CJjw5)
Posted by: Vashta Nerada at July 24, 2013 10:58 AM (fCkqS)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 10:58 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 10:59 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: Empire of Jeff at July 24, 2013 02:56 PM (CJjw5)
I think they are all standing around that Moon base home depot.
Posted by: polynikes at July 24, 2013 10:59 AM (m2CN7)
Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at July 24, 2013 10:59 AM (/Crba)
My own pet theory is the volume of an atom is actually infinite allowing for electrons to wander quite far and wide. There'd be some multi-dimensional probability matrix resembling the heat equations that generally causes them to stay where we expect them to the vast majority of the time though. Deviations from norm would have very very low probability.
How else do you explain long term decay of otherwise stable atoms? (i.e heat death of the universe a zillion years hence)
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at July 24, 2013 10:59 AM (spjFk)
Posted by: Dr. Mr. Badman at July 24, 2013 10:59 AM (MlqTY)
1 Warp drive is too dangerous without a Gellar field.
That's a racktastic front shield that distracts inbound objects, right?
Posted by: Anachronda at July 24, 2013 10:59 AM (FzhYM)
Posted by: Flatbush Joe at July 24, 2013 11:00 AM (ZPrif)
Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at July 24, 2013 02:56 PM (/Crba)
The bitch must leave.
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 02:57 PM (GQ8sn)
Gaylord Focker flounces on out?
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 11:00 AM (WRnYo)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 11:00 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at July 24, 2013 11:00 AM (/Crba)
Posted by: The Detroit City Council at July 24, 2013 11:00 AM (8ZskC)
Posted by: Blacksheep at July 24, 2013 11:00 AM (8/DeP)
"But Dr. AlcubierreÂ’s paper was purely theoretical"
???
Why are we wasting time on this now? He hasn't even issued a real paper yet.
Posted by: Roy at July 24, 2013 11:00 AM (VndSC)
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at July 24, 2013 11:01 AM (zF6Iw)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 11:01 AM (/PCJa)
@138
I like Ford here, but I think its PG-13 and that may be a problem. Also the most intricate and compelling parts are in Ender's head which I don't really know if a film can pull off.
Posted by: Jollyroger at July 24, 2013 11:01 AM (t06LC)
On a related note, I just finished Ender's Game. Awesome book. Ace should review it.
Having said that, I want to see the movie but it frightens me. Imagine a film where the entire cast was Anakin from the Phantom Menace. Wizard.
---------
But its also got Han Solo.
Posted by: junior at July 24, 2013 11:01 AM (UWFpX)
>>Any takers, however, that he got some sweet government funding to do a project that he doesn't believe will work?
Still has a better chance at making money than the solar companies funded by our tax dollars.
Posted by: Mama AJ at July 24, 2013 11:02 AM (SUKHu)
I like Ford here, but I think its PG-13 and that may be a problem. Also the most intricate and compelling parts are in Ender's head which I don't really know if a film can pull off.
------------
The good news is that Card's been involved with it from the start (and through multiple versions). If anyone knows what can be safely cut and what should be kept, he'd be up near the top of the list.
Posted by: junior at July 24, 2013 11:03 AM (UWFpX)
Posted by: Tami at July 24, 2013 02:55 PM (X6akg)
Hammering the unions over Detroit sent her to the mattresses.
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 11:03 AM (kXoT0)
Posted by: polynikes at July 24, 2013 11:03 AM (m2CN7)
On a related note, I just finished Ender's Game. Awesome book. Ace should review it. Having said that, I want to see the movie but it frightens me.
-
Can you imagine how Hollywood will screw that one up? They will get Keanu Reeves to play Ender, and Mikey from the Life commercial to play Bean.
Posted by: Vashta Nerada at July 24, 2013 11:03 AM (fCkqS)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 11:03 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: YIKES! at July 24, 2013 11:04 AM (mETGQ)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 11:04 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: James T. Kirk at July 24, 2013 11:04 AM (4ysyC)
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at July 24, 2013 11:05 AM (P7hip)
Like squeezing a water balloon.
Localized space has some preferred shape. If you can loosen it up on one end, the other end is gonna squirt you forward.
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at July 24, 2013 11:05 AM (spjFk)
One of these days it'll happen. And the answer to the power generation needed for practical galactic travel will turn out to be a very simple manipulation of physics. Of course, it won't happen in our lifetimes, but I do believe it will happen. Unless the the earth's inhabitants find a way to completely destroy themselves first. And if that happens, it'll still be Bush's fault.
Posted by: Soona at July 24, 2013 11:05 AM (Z3IKN)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 11:05 AM (WRnYo)
Posted by: Mike Hammer at July 24, 2013 02:58 PM (aDwsi)
_______________________________________________________
Brings back memories. We used to tell girls that had small sweater meat that they had spider bites. Pubescent boys are such retards.
Posted by: Truck Monkey at July 24, 2013 11:06 AM (32Ze2)
How else do you explain long term decay of otherwise stable atoms? (i.e heat death of the universe a zillion years hence)
I wonder if that would explain where everything winds up after it goes into a black hole? I've read a theory on that, too, that's sorta the universe "breathing" energy.
Not beyond the realm of possibility, especially if the "no energy is ever lost" theorem stays true. Perhaps the matter enters the realm of the sub-Higgs-Boson and reenters somewhere else. Thus, the maintenance of solid matter.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at July 24, 2013 11:06 AM (0HooB)
FIFY, Princess.
Posted by: jwpaine @PirateBallerina at July 24, 2013 11:06 AM (/lWM8)
Let's see....PSTD, anti-war message, man is evil, imperialist for exterminating the precious aliens *yawn*
Posted by: NASA at July 24, 2013 11:07 AM (2mSdf)
Posted by: RiverC, White Chocolate Emancipator at July 24, 2013 11:07 AM (El+h4)
Posted by: Tami[/i][/b][/u][/s] at July 24, 2013 11:07 AM (X6akg)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 02:53 PM (GQ8sn)
I am STILL a sweet, innocent flower of virtue and purity, dammit. *GLARE* I just get a little wanton when it comes to union suffering. Can you blame me?
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 11:07 AM (4df7R)
----------------
"I owe those unions" --- Barack Obama, in "The Audacity of Hope,"
Posted by: Mike Hammer at July 24, 2013 11:07 AM (aDwsi)
Dodge Swinger 1973, Galaxy 500,
All the way stars' green, gotta go.
Dodge Swinger 1973, top down, chassis low,
Panel dim, light drive, Jesus on the dashboard.
T-minus whenever it feels right, Galaxy 500.
Planets align, a king is born.
Whenever it feels right
Whenever it feels right
Whenever it feels right...
Posted by: Scottie at July 24, 2013 11:08 AM (wtvvX)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 11:08 AM (GQ8sn)
Don't ask, don't tell?
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 11:09 AM (kXoT0)
Which is highly improbable.
Posted by: eleven at July 24, 2013 02:56 PM (KXm42)
Which means, I believe, taht if I think really HARD about it, it should just pop into existence in front of me, since that would be HIGHLY improbable.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 11:09 AM (4df7R)
I think the whole beaming people is much more likely, because you become light.
But probably not a really light worker like obama.
Posted by: Guy Mohawk at July 24, 2013 11:09 AM (4+FWp)
Posted by: ParisParamus at July 24, 2013 11:09 AM (IMD0f)
Posted by: Tami at July 24, 2013 03:07 PM (X6akg)
MWR did say she lived with her parents. Hard to go to the mattresses when mom and dad are around. Internet mattresses are a different story.
Posted by: polynikes at July 24, 2013 11:09 AM (m2CN7)
>> Any sciency-type Morons heard about this and can put me to some knowledge?
I think you're talking about vacuum energy, which is related to the concept of zero-point energy.
(Dark energy might come from vacuum energy, or it might be something else entirely. The scientists are still pretty confused.)
Posted by: sandy burger at July 24, 2013 11:09 AM (k0pNf)
Brilliant! Nobel Committee, please make check payable to jwpaine.
Posted by: jwpaine @PirateBallerina at July 24, 2013 11:10 AM (/lWM8)
I'm amazed they haven't done 'Out of the Silent Planet' yet. Maybe because in that one the aliens aren't victimized even though the crazy English doctor and his flack want to take over their planet for humankind to colonize.
Too much real spirituality.
Posted by: RiverC, White Chocolate Emancipator at July 24, 2013 11:10 AM (El+h4)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at July 24, 2013 03:07 PM (4df7R)
Never, ever, sweetie. **pats MWR gently on arm in a purely sisterly fashion**
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 11:10 AM (kXoT0)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 11:10 AM (WRnYo)
"I owe those unions" --- Barack Obama, in "The Audacity of Hope,"
----------
Owing them hasn't seemed to help the unions all that much with the ACA.
Posted by: junior at July 24, 2013 11:10 AM (UWFpX)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 11:11 AM (/PCJa)
John Big Booty knows warp drive but he ain't telling.
Posted by: polynikes at July 24, 2013 11:11 AM (m2CN7)
Random thought on stopping the warp drive, feel free to shoot down.
If I understand correctly, the warp drive contracts space in front of the vehicle leaving the vehicle traveling at regular speed through contracted space. Thus, an object can move lightyears by traveling at relatively slow speeds.
Couldn't you just stop by say stopping the regular speed forward movement? Sure the warp drive is still working, but if you aren't moving forward (perhaps even backwards) wouldn't your signal then be able to reach the warp drive?
Posted by: Jollyroger at July 24, 2013 11:11 AM (t06LC)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 03:11 PM (/PCJa)
Thou becomest one with the universe PDQ....
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 11:12 AM (kXoT0)
FedEx delivery guarantee: dick pics to Andromeda in 20 minutes or less or your money back.
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at July 24, 2013 11:12 AM (spjFk)
Posted by: Tami at July 24, 2013 03:07 PM (X6akg)
lol!
The other day similar union news had me seeking out Nearsider for some thinly veiled innuendo. He showed up and instead of innuendo I just dragged him into his bunk. This is just hearkening back to that event.
I have an odd brain.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 11:13 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 11:13 AM (GQ8sn)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 11:13 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: Sam In VA at July 24, 2013 11:13 AM (Q52VH)
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 03:10 PM (kXoT0)
*pouts/leans* Thank you, Sherry. I'll make sure to ask Santa to bring you a super special set of stompy stillettos for Christmas this year.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 11:13 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at July 24, 2013 03:13 PM (4df7R)
You do know that is an undocumented feature, not a bug, right?
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 11:13 AM (kXoT0)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 11:14 AM (GQ8sn)
>> They will get Keanu Reeves to play Ender, and Mikey from the Life commercial to play Bean.
Samuel L. Jackson is "Ender".
"I want these m*********ing aliens off this m*********ing planet!"
Posted by: sandy burger at July 24, 2013 11:14 AM (k0pNf)
Brilliant! Nobel Committee, please make check payable to jwpaine.
Posted by: jwpaine
---------------
Counter-thrust. I'm on board.
Posted by: Mike Hammer at July 24, 2013 11:14 AM (aDwsi)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 11:14 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 11:14 AM (WRnYo)
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 11:15 AM (GQ8sn)
Running into a black hole might suck though...
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at July 24, 2013 11:15 AM (spjFk)
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at July 24, 2013 11:15 AM (0HooB)
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at July 24, 2013 03:13 PM (4df7R)
** purr **
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 11:16 AM (kXoT0)
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at July 24, 2013 03:06 PM (0HooB)
------------------------------------------------
So I guess astronomers need to start focusing on finding the universe's asshole.
Posted by: Soona at July 24, 2013 11:16 AM (Z3IKN)
MWR seen breaking bunks up and down the east coast!!!
Posted by: EC at July 24, 2013 03:14 PM (GQ8sn)
Would that make me like an MWRnado? 
The other day similar union news had me seeking out Nearsider for some thinly veiled innuendo brazen come-ons.
Fixed for accuracy.
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 03:14 PM
*airy wave* You say tomato, I say tomahto...
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/s][/b][/u][/i] at July 24, 2013 11:16 AM (4df7R)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 11:17 AM (WRnYo)
Shit, I know where that is: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/u][/s] at July 24, 2013 11:17 AM (spjFk)
Posted by: Soona at July 24, 2013 03:16 PM (Z3IKN)
Right now, Detroit and Asscrackistan are in a dead heat for the honor.
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes C'est Magnifique at July 24, 2013 11:18 AM (kXoT0)
-------------
Thanks for teeing that up.
Washington D.C
Posted by: Mike Hammer at July 24, 2013 11:18 AM (aDwsi)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 11:18 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 11:18 AM (WRnYo)
Posted by: supercore at July 24, 2013 02:46 PM (bwV72)
How do you measure velocity? Distance and time. How do you measure distance and time? Movement (velocity!).
If you get there before the light does, you've moved faster than light. The universe updates at the speed of light - so if you're faster than light, you've arrived at a time in the universe before you started your journey. (at which point you can make a 2nd FTL trip to arrive in the past of your original starting point -> time travel)
Posted by: ConservativeMonster at July 24, 2013 11:19 AM (v3pYe)
So I guess astronomers need to start focusing on finding the universe's asshole.
That's already been found: He's in the White House.
Unexpectedly, the Hubble was not needed in order to locate it.
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at July 24, 2013 11:19 AM (0HooB)
-
Get off my lawn!
Posted by: Entropy at July 24, 2013 11:20 AM (aDwsi)
Posted by: grognard at July 24, 2013 11:20 AM (/29Nl)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 11:23 AM (WRnYo)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 11:26 AM (/PCJa)
And now that my creative mind is all fired up. Time to get back to writing. Got something like 120 note cards in Scrivener already for this story.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 11:28 AM (WRnYo)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at July 24, 2013 03:23 PM (WRnYo)
The only mode that does not violate causality is one where the travel is instant to the occupants, but you get there at or less than the speed of light; e.g. it takes you 100+ years "universe time" to travel 100 light years.
Anything else, and you're reaching your destination before you left; if you make a round trip you end up in your past.
Unless FTL is only valid one way and there's some spooky math to guarantee round trips don't get to the past; but how would that math work for people going FTL in opposite directions?
FTL as in effective/average velocity when you calculate displacement over time.
Posted by: ConservativeMonster at July 24, 2013 11:32 AM (oY6Yp)
Regarding the ridiculous amounts of energy needed, what the Times didn't mention was that White figured out last year that a different configuration of the "warp ring" resulted in a just-as-ridiculous reduction in the amount of energy needed. When his math placed this back in feasible territory, that's when he got serious about designing an experiment.
Posted by: PatC at July 24, 2013 11:32 AM (j8SuM)
Posted by: j. biden at July 24, 2013 11:32 AM (GVnHA)
Posted by: bawney fudge at July 24, 2013 11:34 AM (GVnHA)
*
*
I'd like to have Sarah Michelle Gellar project her field all around me.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 24, 2013 11:36 AM (BDU/a)
How is that *not* in direct contravention of the 2nd Law?
Well, in my theory, there would be extreme compressive forces taking place inside a black hole that would break down any matter into its component parts (or maybe, just a single part). Our current technology prevents us from detecting a particle that small. That doesn't mean that these particles don't exist.
Now, for the sake of convenience, I'll call anything in the area beyond measurement "sub-space." If that smallest of particles enter sub-space, we really have no idea where it goes, or even if it's subject to time. If we ever witness FTL activity in a natural setting, my guess is that is where it'll be seen. Insert Magic here.
Anyway, if this sub-space particle is capable of being suspended inside this newly-discovered "ether" of energy (going back to the NASA discovery), just motion itself will allow enough of them to coalesce into a Higgs particle, then larger and larger particles until there are enough of them to start forming atoms and all the rest of matter.
Thus, the Breath of Life. *removes pocket protector*
Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at July 24, 2013 11:38 AM (0HooB)
*
*
I'll take the Nicole Kidman model, please. Age 28, with slightly bigger boobs.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 24, 2013 11:42 AM (BDU/a)
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) MFM Delenda Est at July 24, 2013 11:43 AM (/PCJa)
Posted by: Beowulf Shaeffer at July 24, 2013 11:45 AM (BDU/a)
Posted by: RobM1981 at July 24, 2013 11:46 AM (oeqMh)
*
*
When I get my hands on the headquarters genius who assigned me a female yeoman . . .
. . .I'ma shake his hand, baby!
Posted by: James T. Kirk at July 24, 2013 11:48 AM (BDU/a)
Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith's Other Mobile[/i][/b][/s][/u] at July 24, 2013 11:55 AM (qyfb5)
Posted by: Cato at July 24, 2013 12:08 PM (KJnit)
Posted by: Trevor (@TJexcite) at July 24, 2013 12:21 PM (c6tHt)
Posted by: Emile Antoon Khadaji at July 24, 2013 12:29 PM (UlI/7)
Posted by: Cato at July 24, 2013 04:08 PM (KJnit)
And that is exactly how you violate causality.
You're using the ship's perspective as if it had any meaning here, but it does not. We already know the fast traveling spaceship experiences less time passed relative to the stationary observer, when the ship comes back and the people compare clocks. The only thing that matters for causality is the universe's perspective.
What is velocity? Distance/time. If, from the outside, you've traveled 10 light years in a year, you've had an effective velocity of 10x speed of light. That breaks causality. I'll need some time to reconstruct a thought experiment that demonstrates this.
Posted by: ConservativeMonster at July 24, 2013 12:52 PM (sGtp+)
Just like a physicist!
Dr. Alcubierre is worried you won't be able to turn the enigine off, because the signal will perpetually be far behind the front of the machine and can never reach it's intended location. Obviously, you have the engineer played by a woman, Ms. Scottie, say. The front of the machine therefor will never be on-time, and maybe even a little late, and so the signal will be fully able to turn the thingee off.
Alternatively, you put the button up front too. See? Fixed.
Posted by: MTF at July 24, 2013 01:25 PM (B5y+v)
The space within the bubble is normal space from the point of view within the bubble, meaning that any signal from the ship would travel from the ship to the front of the bubble in the same amount of time it would take if there wer no movement at all. The ship itself may not actually be moving, just the bubble, bringing the ship with it. (Much like the earths spin means that anyone at the equator is moving at a little over 1000 MPH, faster than the speed of sound, yet someone standing just to the west of them will still hear any sound they make.)
If you can create a bubble that's 1 light year long, travel with a ship from one end to the other at just under the speed of light, while the bubble itself is also traveling at just under the speed of light, when you get to the other end and shut the bubble off, you will have traversed a little less than 2 light years in only 1 year. Hence, you will have exceeded the speed of light without ever actually exceeding the speed of light. Having multiple bubbles-within-bubbles, each moving at just below the speed of light within it's parent, and the ship in the smallest inner bubble, will increase this speed dramatically.
Posted by: RW at July 25, 2013 11:15 AM (HKz3Z)
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Warp drive is too dangerous without a Gellar field.
Posted by: Warhammer 40k nerd at July 24, 2013 10:29 AM (WDCYi)