The Alcubierre warp drive plays well with accepted physics..

[Illuminated Profile]

But it May Come With A Killer Downside -your arrival may end up disintegrating anyone there when you show up.

While many factors involving FTL travel are purely theoretical - and may remain in the realm of imagination for a very long time, if not ever - there are some concepts that play well with currently-accepted physics.

The Alcubierre warp drive is one of those concepts.

Full sizeProposed by Mexican theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre in 1994, the drive would propel a ship at superluminal speeds by creating a bubble of negative energy around it, expanding space (and time) behind the ship while compressing space in front of it. In much the same way that a surfer rides a wave, the bubble of space containing the ship and its passengers would be pushed at velocities not limited to the speed of light toward a destination.

Of course, when the ship reaches its destination it has to stop. And that's when all hell breaks loose.

full article: http://io9.com/5889628/warp-drives-may- ... r-downside


-
'Space Chronicles': Why Exploring Space Still Matters
After decades of global dominance, America's space shuttle program ended last summer while countries like Russia, China and India continue to advance their programs. But astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, author of the new book Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier, says America's space program is at a critical moment. He thinks it's time for America to invest heavily in space exploration and research.
full article: http://www.npr.org/2012/02/27/147351252 ... ll-matters