Did NASA Just Accidentally Produce A Warp Bubble? EmDrive Could Lead To Warp Drive

[Katashi_itto]

NASA scientists working on a project called EmDrive have accidentally stumbled upon something that will send science fiction junkies into a frenzy. The possibility of a real-life warp drive has been placed on the table thanks to readings that indicate the EmDrive’s resonance chamber sent beams traveling faster than the speed of light, which would be considered warp speed. Researchers have considered the possibility of traveling faster than the speed of light, but until the recent NASA study, the feat had never been achieved.

Mysterious Universe notes that the NASA scientists are buzzing about the discovery on the NASA Spaceflight Forums. The forums are a place for information regarding the engineering aspects of the space flight and NASA. Therefore, the discovery that laser beams may have just breached the speed of light sent the page into discussions on the long-term implications of warp speed bubbles and the possibly of future warp speed travel.

First, the researchers note that though beams that were shot into the EmDrive were recorded at speeds faster than light, there is still one more study that must be performed to determine with certainty that the light speed barrier was broken. Scientists note that the beams must be shot through the EmDrive in a vacuum environment. This will ensure that the effect was not a result of atmospheric heating.

“I don’t think we can call this length contraction (even though it might look like it) for sure until the same results are in repeated in vacuum.”

Commenters note that the whole finding was one big accident and that researchers did not even realize that the EmDrive was replicating a well-known physicist’s theory of warp bubbles.
http://www.inquisitr.com/2040259/did-nasa-just-accidentally-produce-a-warp-bubble-emdrive-could-lead-to-warp-drive/

[daleanime]

1. This is the kind of cool stuff we could be doing....

if we weren't spending so much time and money killing people.

[cantbeserious]

2. Roger That

eom

[valerief]

3. But it's important for rich people to get richer. In fact, it's the most important

thing in the world. It drives EVERYTHING.

Doesn't make sense to me, but after many decades, I realize this is true.

[Octafish]

4. Truth. And that's why the Have-Mores always have more.

Un-Democratic, though, as Wall-Street-on-the-Potomac is invitation-only.

[daleanime]

5. Have to agree with you....

and if we suggest doing some thing positive with their mountains of loot, like removing the SS cap to expand SS, that's unfair.


Getting very tired of being fair to people who aren't.

[MisterP]

34. but didn't it just happen?

[phantom power]

6. physics police: nobody is crushed by "intense speed"

if you're going to be crushed, it would be from intense acceleration.

[Binkie The Clown]

11. Or...

... a ton of very heavy stones.

Don't you hate it when they get the basic physics wrong?

[Maynar]

14. Ramming Speed!

Maximum acceleration!

[colsohlibgal]

7. It's Coming

Just a matter of time then off we go. And yes, if we actually funded science like the MI Complex we'd already have warp drive.

Eisenhower wasn't right about everything but he was so prescient with his 1/61 warning about the potential evil of undue and runaway influence of the MI Complex. He also was Bernie Sanders compared to the far right republican party now.

[Aristus]

8. I'll await confirmatory testing.

Scientists thought they'd discovered the secret of cold fusion back in the late 80's. Turns out, the results were misinterpreted, or not reproducible. And we've heard nothing on cold fusion since.

I think Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity is against them. If the vacuum test confirms faster-than-light travel, and they can reproduce it consistently, I'll get excited.

[sakabatou]

9. Same.

[Stryst]

19. Well, as I understand, the warping of space time is already considered a "loophole"

in special relativity. The light speed limit only applies to objects with mass, and since space doesn't have any mass, it can move or shift faster than the speed of light. Some cosmological models even assume that in the early moments of the universe, space was expanding faster than the speed of light, which could be why the cosmic microwave background radiation is all squiggled up.

(disclaimer: My degree is in anthropology, I'm just an avid consumer of science and science fiction.)

[salib]

23. There is also the more interesting question of

If it is light that is traveling faster than light, what exactly is it faster than?

[sulphurdunn]

27. What the hell,

get excited anyway. It's fun. Skepticism can be put out with the cat for a little while.

[Bosonic]

10. Background reading pdf

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110015936_2011016932.pdf

and this details the actual experiment:

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110023492.pdf

[stevenleser]

12. Shouldn't the Vulcans be visiting right about now?

[irisblue]

13. 2063, so not too much longer

what will Vulcans make of Republicans?

[stevenleser]

15. What would they make of Republicans? Here you go...

Their response to every GOPer pronouncement:

[Gman]

22. Better thsn

"I'm not a scientist".

[Maynar]

17. Hopefully

they'll find a vaccine.

[Iliyah]

29. Why? Heck the other than earthlings are staying far away from us

and I don't blame. Its too much anger and hatred here where the loud minority is always mad.

I'm enjoying the prospect of warp drive but sorta feel sorry for other worlds once we come calling.

[johnnyreb]

16. I could finally escape the republicans!

http://www.alternativetentacles.com/octopodes/655/bmrLI2qokCdYvLW6cB1/Iowaska-Out_Of_My_Head.mp3

[Unknown Beatle]

18. If time is relative

and Warp Drive is to be discovered, then why aren't we being visited by time travelers now?

[Gman]

21. Dr. Emmett (Doc) Brown should be here in October b

[Stryst]

25. Time cops, duh.

But it might be a trick that no figures out between now and the heat death of the universe. Or it might require so much energy that it's not practically possible.

This site http://timetravelphilosophy.net/topics/relativity/ is pretty good for us non matholete types.

[Gman]

20. I'll believe it when there is conclusive proof

That's reviewed and duplicated by others. Until then it's mathematically and in practice impossible to exceed the speed of light.

[RecoveringJournalist]

24. Agreed

That seems...sorry...logical.

But if it is proven, please post when and where the Vulcans will land to establish First Contact.

[cstanleytech]

32. I wouldnt count on first contact even if it turns out to be feasible given that

most species only exist for a blink of an eye so I'm willing to bet that the odds of another space faring race close by and still alive and kicking is probably low.

[Egnever]

35. That's an interesting way of looking at it.

Had never thought about it based on the relative lifespans of species. Though I am not sure we can extrapolate our experience here on earth to alien environments. Still thanks for a new way for me of thinking about the issue.

[LongTomH]

26. I would advise caution about accepting this too quickly!

Don't get me wrong; I'm a space geek from way back. In 2013, I sat glued to my PC watching Icarus Interstellar's Starship Congress, especially the third day when Dr. Harold 'Sonny' White and others talked about 'Black Sky' (way beyond Blue Sky) concepts like warp drives.

Dr. White and his Eagleworks Laboratories are the researchers on both his tabletop warp bubble demonstration and 'Q thrusters' like the ones described in the article.

Dr. White's presentation at the Starship Congress:

Here's where I need to advise caution; a lot of people in science remember debacles like:

• Cold Fusion,
  
• The 'discovery' that the force of gravity seemed to be lessened over superconducting magnets, and most recently,
  
• The 'discovery' of 'superluminal' neutrinos at CERN

.
I remember a NASA researcher expressing caution about the superconducting magnet research; she made it completely clear that she wanted to avoid another 'cold fusion.'

In summary, remain skeptical, or at least tentative until this is replicated. I understand that other NASA centers and university labs are working to get independent verification.

Edited to add: There will be a 2015 Starship Congress. Date and location to be announced. I'll post something in the science forum as soon as I find out.

[arcane1]

30. Thanks for this. It's a challenge sometimes to balance the inner space-geek and healthy skepticism.

This claim still has a long way to go!

[FailureToCommunicate]

28. Warp drive? Been there, done that...

[yuiyoshida]

31. I CAN'T WAIT!!! (((Watch this in full screen!)))

or this...

[struggle4progress]

33. ooh! inquisitr! everybody's favorite source of cutting-edge science news!

[Triana]

36. "Warp bubbles" - Reminds me of Star Trek TNG episode: "Remember Me"

TNG was on air in 1990 or so though.

Here's the video:

http://www.cbs.com/shows/star_trek_the_next_generation/video/ZMGlLfThkarXgRibaKQemC0AGiPjy20J/star-trek-the-next-generation-remember-me/

[Telcontar]

37. God I hope so