The Downside of Warp Drives: Annihilating Whole Star Systems When You Arrive 235
MrSeb writes "The dream of faster-than-light travel has been on the mind of humanity for generations. Until recently, though, it was restricted to the realm of pure science fiction. Theoretical mechanisms for warp drives have been posited by science, some of which actually jive quite nicely with what we know of physics. Of course, that doesn't mean they're actually going to work, though. NASA researchers recently revisited the Alcubierre warp drive and concluded that its power requirements were not as impossible as once thought. However, a new analysis from the University of Sydney claims that using a warp drive of this design comes with a drawback. Specifically, it could cause cataclysmic explosions at your destination."
Not the destination that matters (Score:5, Funny)
It's not the destination that matters, it's how you get there. Nothing stresses this as much as blowing up your destination when you get there.
Downside? Sounds like a perfect weapon system (Score:5, Funny)
Downside? Sounds like a perfect weapon system for interstellar conflict.
Re:Downside? Sounds like a perfect weapon system (Score:5, Funny)
The longer the journey lasts, the more of these dangerous particles build up. This doesn’t affect the ability of the warp drive to keep bending the laws of the universe — it’s the stopping that’s going to ruin your day.
Somebody set us up the bomb!
They figured out how to weaponize it... (Score:5, Funny)
This will GUARANTEE it will be made. It is now a military project, warp cruise missle, set it to the destination via a nice long route and have it drop out of warp near the other planet or star...... KABOOM!...
Freaking A, take that Omicron Persei 8!
Re:"It’s the stopping that’s going to (Score:5, Funny)
BULLSHIT. Stop, I order you STOP!!!!
Re:They figured out how to weaponize it... (Score:3, Funny)
Actually, this would be a very good thing.
You know those killer asteroids they warn us about? Well, seems we finally have a way of dealing with them that does not involve Bruce Willis.
Full steam ahead I say.
Re:Duh... (Score:1, Funny)
It's a good thing. Nothing is worse than coming out of warp into the middle of a previously-undetected asteroid field. Now, with this technology you can blow it away before exiting, leaving nothing but clean, pristine space for your arrival.
Re:Downside? Sounds like a perfect weapon system (Score:5, Funny)
So it really is the sudden stop at the end that gets you...
What the hell?! (Score:5, Funny)
I swear there was supposed to be a planet here...
Re:Not the destination that matters (Score:5, Funny)
Crap, now the Environmentalists are going to get involved. It will never be built now.
Re:Downside? Sounds like a perfect weapon system (Score:5, Funny)
now we know what really causes those gamma ray bursts we detect from time to time.
Re:Downside? Sounds like a perfect weapon system (Score:5, Funny)
Somebody set us up the bomb!
Actually, it reminded me of the Picard manoeuvre...
Or the Samantha Carter maneuver...
"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water."
Re:Downside? Sounds like a perfect weapon system (Score:5, Funny)
Sounds like a perfect weapon system for interstellar conflict.
Somewhere in the Milky Way galaxy, K'breel, Speaker of the Council, suddenly gets an idea....
Re:Not the destination that matters (Score:5, Funny)
It's not the destination that matters, it's how you get there. Nothing stresses this as much as blowing up your destination when you get there.
Well, it would fit NASA's (unspoken) mission. Just like with the Moon - "to boldly go where no man will go henceforth".
Re:Downside? Sounds like a perfect weapon system (Score:5, Funny)
Not a problem. (Score:4, Funny)
Build it, and if the environmentalists don't want you to use it, volunteer to meet at their place to discuss their concerns.