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2018: A new idea for moving faster than light
At the end of November 2018, scientists presented data that, perhaps, the limitation of the speed of light is not absolutely, and it can be overcome. This gives hope for moving objects faster than light.
Miguel Alcubierre, director of the Institute of Nuclear Sciences at the National University of Mexico, presented The New York Times with mathematical calculations and a scientific basis for creating a real warp engine that would not contradict the general theory of relativity. He was brought to this idea by science fiction works: the warp engine compresses the space in front of itself and expands it behind, but the device in principle does not accelerate and does not move, only the space around it moves, which thus pushes it forward. At the same time, the warp engine moves faster than light.
This idea is not new, but physicists have repeatedly revised the amount of energy that may be required to operate such an engine. At first, Alcubierra assumed that this would require more negative energy than exists in the Universe, but if scientists are right in their calculations, then in fact the warp engine is quite realistic. If in the future it is possible to find out how to get more negative energy, perhaps it will not be needed as much as Alcubierre expected. Recent refinements of his work by NASA scientists have shown that vibrations of parts of the device at high frequencies can significantly reduce its energy consumption. This would greatly simplify its movement through space-time.
Physicists are still wary of this idea - the existence of negative energy is still in question, not to mention its sources. In addition, the possibility is not ruled out that an accelerated ship with a warp engine simply cannot slow down.
One way or another, if humanity really manages to create this technology, it will be more than one century before it learns how to use it.[1]
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