Warp Drive to be discussed outside of Star Trek movie

William Atkins
Saturday, 23 May 2009 20:58

Science - Space

The physics of warp drive technology is still very much theoretical. It has been popularized in science fiction stories, such as in the science fiction TV series and movies involving Star Trek.

Supposedly, a spacecraft with warp drive will be able to travel at speeds faster than the speed of light by creating a bubble in normal space around the spacecraft that shields it from the abnormal velocities involved in hyperspace.

NASA states in the article Warp Drive, When? Status of "Warp Drive the current consensus among theoretical physicists: “The bad news is that the bulk of scientific knowledge that we have accumulated to date concludes that faster than light travel is impossible. This is an artifact of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity. Yes, there are some other perspectives; tachyons, wormholes, inflationary universe, spacetime warping, quantum paradoxes...ideas that are in credible scientific literature, but it is still too soon to know if such ideas are viable,:

Additional information on the possibility of warp drive technology is found on the June 10, 1999 BBC News article “Warp drive possible.”

Another story about Barnes is from the article "Bexley Physics Students Get 1st Peek at Warp Drive Tech." In the article, it begins, "BEXLEY, OH, May 17, 2006 - On May 11, beginning at 9 AM, the physics students of Bexley High School got a historic opportunity to be the first to learn of the development of a prototype for warp drive technology. Though the presentation got off to a jerky start during the first class, due to technical problems with controlling the VCR so the students could properly analyze the footage, by the second period it was fairly smooth sailing for presenter Marshall Barnes and the classes of science teacher Craig Kramer."

Author's note: A "VCR" was used to demonstrate warp drive technology; that is, a videocassette recorder.  And, does anyone know what "STDTS" stands for? I've looked and looked, but cannot find what this acronym stands for. I would also like to find a resume for Marshall Barnes so I can find out where he went to school for his engineering degree. I find no information about his educational background. Is he self taught? Is he associated with an university? Can anyone help?