From: John Lambshead <pjdl@n...>
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2002 13:27:24 +0000
Subject: Hi all, have been off list while working in Jamaica so if someone else
Hi all, have been off list while working in Jamaica so if someone else has posted this - sorry. New Scientist reports on a theoretically not impossible way of pushing a space craft FTL. If negative energy is created the spacecraft is enclosed in a 'horizon' bubble which warps space, compressing it in front and expanding it behind. This evades the light barrier In such a bubble there are a few drawbacks as the horizon runs through the bubble 1) you can't navigate as the direction could only be changed from the outside. 2) you can't communicate/fire as released radiation etc compresses in the front of the bubble at a point where physics breaks down (and will presumably be released in one go when you turn off the drive. Still it gives a possible 'jump-drive' in straight lines from point to point. A last contribution to the FTL communication discussion. Plotwise, one needs FTL communication not to work. The reseaon that the Spanish main was so exciting (from a safe historical distance) and that there was 'no peace beyond the line' was that governments in Europe had little idea what was going on in the West Indies. You sent your guys off in boats and every so often a picket cam back and gave you the Admiral's version of events (Spanish treasure ships wantonly attacked us and we were forced to defend ourselves - by the way Sire your 40% share is in the hold....) John Dr PJD Lambshead Head, Nematode Research Group Department of Zoology The Natural History Museum London SW7 5BD, UK. Tel +44 (0)20 7942 5032 Fax +44 (0)20 7942 5433