Faster than light travel

[Guard_Commander]

Is it possible?

[Simetrical]

No.

[Oldgamer]

I'm a philosopher and a theologian, so I'm hardly in a position to argue the question from the standpoint of science.

However, I was given to understand that Einstein's Theory of Relativity depends upon the speed of light being a constant, and in fact, the speed of light is not a constant.

On a lighter side, from The Big Bang Theory (one of my favorite television programs), in which four genius geeks live in close proximity to a beautiful blonde named Penny (unfortunately, she's a "norm"). It seems that Leonard (one of the main characters) is about to present a paper, and he's nervous, now that the event is about to happen to an audience of 25 physicists (a huge crowd, in the particle physics world). His friend, Howard, attempts to help him out of his nervousness ...

Howard: You could open up your talk with a joke.

Leonard: Yeah ... right!
It seems that there was this chicken farmer who couldn't get his hens to lay eggs. So, he asked a particle physicist if he could solve the problem. After doing some research, the particle physicist came back and said, "I've got good news, and I've got bad news."

The farmer said, "Give me the good news, first."

The particle physicist said, "I can drastically increase your egg production."

The farmer said, "Great! Now, what's the bad news."

The particle physicist said, "Your chickens have to be spherical, and lay their eggs in a total vacuum."

Back on topic, faster than light travel might be attainable, but it is very likely going to be quite difficult to get there ...

[Frédéric Chopin]

Wouldn't it be possible for something to travel faster than light in a medium?

[ajm317]

Wouldn't it be possible for something to travel faster than light in a medium?

Yes. This is the source of what's known as Cherenkov radiation, which is the electromagnetic analog of a sonic boom.

I assume though that the poster is asking if it's possible to exceed c, the speed of light in a vacuum, to which the answer is: not as far as we can tell.

I'm a philosopher and a theologian, so I'm hardly in a position to argue the question from the standpoint of science.

However, I was given to understand that Einstein's Theory of Relativity depends upon the speed of light being a constant, and in fact, the speed of light is not a constant.

Special relativity has been experimentally verified in a number of ways. I've done one of them myself in fact in a muon lifetime experiment in an undergraduate lab class.

There is some debate as to whether or not the speed of light is a constant, some astronomers have done some experiments which indicate it might not be, but regardless of whether or not it is constant you probably can't exceed it.

[Thy]

what if you turn on the lights, whilst travelling in light speed?

[Chaigidel]

actually you are already traveling faster than light, or the universe itself is ---
and the lights will be turned out.

teehee but probably no .

[Mythos]

I think it will be easier to manipulate the space-time continuum than travel faster than light.

[Simetrical]

Back on topic, faster than light travel might be attainable, but it is very likely going to be quite difficult to get there ...

Sure, anything might be possible. We don't see any way for it to occur, yet.

what if you turn on the lights, whilst travelling in light speed?

Nothing special, except for the usual confusion about relative speed of things moving at or near the speed of light. Perfectly possible for this to happen: consider a room that has a photodetector controlling the lights, so that when you walk in the room, you trip the sensor, and a signal propagating at the speed of light turns on the lights.

actually you are already traveling faster than light, or the universe itself is

Not relative to any particle or collection of particles.

I think it will be easier to manipulate the space-time continuum than travel faster than light.

"Manipulate the space-time continuum" is a basically meaningless term. I'm manipulating the space-time continuum by typing right now. If you mean something like "make wormholes", you should say that. Making wormholes at least isn't known to be impossible under current laws of physics, which makes it perhaps slightly more likely than superluminal travel.

[Mythos]

"Manipulate the space-time continuum" is a basically meaningless term. I'm manipulating the space-time continuum by typing right now. If you mean something like "make wormholes", you should say that. Making wormholes at least isn't known to be impossible under current laws of physics, which makes it perhaps slightly more likely than superluminal travel.

Well, I don't mean it like that. Think of two points on opposite edges of a paper. How do you bring them closer? By folding the paper. Something like that.

[Simetrical]

That would be a wormhole.

[Oldgamer]

That would be a wormhole.

Yes, and if wormholes even exist, there would be two questions regarding them, both very Sci-Fi:

1) Can humans create wormholes, and

2) If we can, is it possible to use them?

[Logik]

What about using anti-matter engines as a source of propulsion?I heard rumors that our scientist are doing research on that kind of exotic propulsion systems and others.

[ajm317]

What about using anti-matter engines as a source of propulsion?I heard rumors that our scientist are doing research on that kind of exotic propulsion systems and others.

You can do that but it really has no bearing on whether or not FTL travel is possible.

[Logik]

You can do that but it really has no bearing on whether or not FTL travel is possible.

Okay in using the conventional propulsion systems that we have now and technology then no it is not possible.Question answered.

[the_mango55]

From a logical standpoint, I have to theorize that either intelligent alien life doesn't exist, or that FTL travel isn't possible.

If fast and effective FTL travel were possible, I would imagine that in 20 million years, humanity (absent interference from other intelligent civilizations) will have claimed every habitable planet in the galaxy.

It's hard to imagine that with the age of the universe, and the number of extincion events that has set the development of the planet back millions of years each time, that there isn't some species that is 20 million years (not that long in the grand scheme of the universe) ahead of us. If FTL was possible I would imagine they would have already claimed the earth for their own.

Unless you have a "Mass Effect" type situation where

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

there is a hyper advanced race of robotic lifeforms that is wiping out all advanced life in the galaxy every 50,000 years or so as a kind of check against galactic over population.

[PurpleScotch]

But...there must be a way to cross the heavens. Will we be able to reach other star systems in the future? If so, how? :hmmm:

[C.M.]

I would suspect that the key to reaching other stars would be to greatly increase the average human lifespan thus making the trip plausible in one's lifetime

[volpesmagnus]

what would be the effects of going faster than the speed of light? i mean, when you break the sound barrier there is a sonic boom, is there and equivalent of this when breaking the speed of light?

[ajm317]

I would suspect that the key to reaching other stars would be to greatly increase the average human lifespan thus making the trip plausible in one's lifetime

Well to an observer on Earth time would appear to slow down for a person on a spaceship traveling nearly the speed of light. Because of this if you go fast enough (in other words close enough to c) you could actually fly across the galaxy in your lifetime.

If, however, you made a return trip to Earth you would find that everyone you knew was quite dead.