Slashdot have a link to an interesting Scotsman article, brace yourself:
AN EXTRAORDINARY “hyperspace” engine that could make interstellar space travel a reality by flying into other dimensions is being investigated by the United States government.
The hypothetical device, which has been outlined in principle but is based on a controversial theory about the fabric of the universe, could potentially allow a spacecraft to travel to Mars in three hours and journey to a star 11 light years away in just 80 days, according to a report in today’s New Scientist magazine.
…
if a large enough magnetic field was created, the craft would slip into a different dimension, where the speed of light is faster, allowing incredible speeds to be reached. Switching off the magnetic field would result in the engine reappearing in our current dimension.
The US air force has expressed an interest in the idea and scientists working for the American Department of Energy – which has a device known as the Z Machine that could generate the kind of magnetic fields required to drive the engine – say they may carry out a test if the theory withstands further scrutiny.
But…
However, Prof Hauser, a physicist at the Applied Sciences University in Salzgitter, Germany, and a former chief of aerodynamics at the European Space Agency, cautioned it was based on a highly controversial theory that would require a significant change in the current understanding of the laws of physics.
Bah! Naysayers! 🙂
My eybrow is well and truly up. We can’t even do that with photons yet teleportation is more feasible then that. we can already teleport stuff. (in a kind of Irish way rather then star trek but still teleportation)
Hello hello,
Just a note to say that “You are tagged” (possibly for the umpteenth time).
See here:
http://www.fustar.org/2006/01/06…me-and-my-meme/
That sounds like a great movie – who’s the director?
I think this was the same story that graced the cover of New Scientist a week back or so (http://www.newscientist.com/channel/fundamentals/mg18925331.200.html). Worth a read — the basic theoretical physics by Burkhard Heim threatens to solve the whole ‘quantum gravity’ problem.
Yea I seen that Richard, though I actually spotted it on the Scotman first for some reason, not sure who picked it up first.