Find out the latest thinking about our universe.
-
bystander
- Apathetic Retiree
- Posts: 21577
- Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:06 pm
- Location: Oklahoma
Post
by bystander » Tue Feb 16, 2010 5:56 pm
Starship pilots: speed kills, especially warp speed
New Scientist - 2101 Feb 16
Star Trek fans, prepare to be disappointed. Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew would die within a second of the USS Enterprise approaching the speed of light.
The problem lies with Einstein's special theory of relativity. It transforms the thin wisp of hydrogen gas that permeates interstellar space into an intense radiation beam that would kill humans within seconds and destroy the spacecraft's electronic instruments.
-
emc
- Equine Locutionist
- Posts: 1307
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:15 pm
- AKA: Bear
- Location: Ed’s World
-
Contact:
Post
by emc » Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:40 pm
Sobering. On the bright side... reckon this drastically lowers the potential for space alien invasion.
-
neufer
- Vacationer at Tralfamadore
- Posts: 18805
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:57 pm
- Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Post
by neufer » Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:42 pm
Art Neuendorffer
-
emc
- Equine Locutionist
- Posts: 1307
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:15 pm
- AKA: Bear
- Location: Ed’s World
-
Contact:
Post
by emc » Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:48 pm
Do you think that Einstein can be wrong about a universal speed limit?
-
neufer
- Vacationer at Tralfamadore
- Posts: 18805
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:57 pm
- Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Post
by neufer » Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:07 pm
emc wrote:Do you think that Einstein can be wrong about a universal speed limit?
I don't think his theory necessarily rules out the possibility of
Tachyons.
Art Neuendorffer
-
emc
- Equine Locutionist
- Posts: 1307
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:15 pm
- AKA: Bear
- Location: Ed’s World
-
Contact:
Post
by emc » Tue Feb 16, 2010 11:17 pm
Interesting… tachyons are predicted in bosonic string theory… my wife likes me to use that on my salad. Spos’d to be healthy and all.
-
neufer
- Vacationer at Tralfamadore
- Posts: 18805
- Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:57 pm
- Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Post
by neufer » Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:56 am
Art Neuendorffer
-
emc
- Equine Locutionist
- Posts: 1307
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:15 pm
- AKA: Bear
- Location: Ed’s World
-
Contact:
Post
by emc » Wed Feb 17, 2010 12:34 pm
What I have learned so far from this thread…
1. Star Trek is likely not an accurate scientific representation of reality due to relativity
2. we worry needlessly about hostile invading aliens from distant galaxies
3. there are lots of space adventure programs that are not an accurate scientific representation of reality (due to relativity)
4. no one wants to argue with Einstein
5. tachyons move faster than light but can’t be proven or disproven since they cannot be seen or measured (smells fishy to me, but what do I know… never mind)
6. if you’re mad at your boyfriend, you can nuke his Valentine chocolates and have a fun physics experiment all at the same time