Technology

Astronomers Could Observe Warp Drives In Action

But only in the event of a warp-drive equivalent to a space shuttle disaster.

hyperspace
(Credit: Sashkin/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Back in 1994, the Mexican physicist Miguel Alcubierre proposed a way for spacecraft to travel faster than the speed of light. Instead of accelerating the spacecraft across a region of spacetime, his idea was to contract spacetime ahead of it and expand spacetime behind it. In this scenario, the spacecraft sits in a flat bubble of spacetime that experiences little acceleration.

The laws of physics that govern this behavior are Einstein’s field equations for general relativity. And they are fearsomely complex. Nevertheless, Alcubierre came up with solutions that allow this kind of faster-than-light motion in an imagined device now known as an Alcubierre Drive.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 70% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.