No FTL information implies no FTL travel?
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The general consensus in the scientific community is that it is impossible to transmit information faster than light.
There is also speculation that it might be possible to open wormholes or travel faster than light with an Alcubierre Drive.
Wouldn't the first point render the second impossible? If both were valid points, you would get a contradiction because you could encode a message in the Alcubierre Drive payload (or send a messenger through a FTL spaceship) and therefore transmit information faster than light? Or is this a misunderstanding of the impossibility of transmitting information faster than light?
With wormholes, this is pretty much sidestepped because nothing is actually traveling faster than light, but rather moving through a shortcut in spacetime. You're essentially cheating, so this isn't particularly interesting and doesn't really break any laws of physics from what I understand.
relativity faster-than-light causality information warp-drives
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up vote
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favorite
The general consensus in the scientific community is that it is impossible to transmit information faster than light.
There is also speculation that it might be possible to open wormholes or travel faster than light with an Alcubierre Drive.
Wouldn't the first point render the second impossible? If both were valid points, you would get a contradiction because you could encode a message in the Alcubierre Drive payload (or send a messenger through a FTL spaceship) and therefore transmit information faster than light? Or is this a misunderstanding of the impossibility of transmitting information faster than light?
With wormholes, this is pretty much sidestepped because nothing is actually traveling faster than light, but rather moving through a shortcut in spacetime. You're essentially cheating, so this isn't particularly interesting and doesn't really break any laws of physics from what I understand.
relativity faster-than-light causality information warp-drives
New contributor
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
The general consensus in the scientific community is that it is impossible to transmit information faster than light.
There is also speculation that it might be possible to open wormholes or travel faster than light with an Alcubierre Drive.
Wouldn't the first point render the second impossible? If both were valid points, you would get a contradiction because you could encode a message in the Alcubierre Drive payload (or send a messenger through a FTL spaceship) and therefore transmit information faster than light? Or is this a misunderstanding of the impossibility of transmitting information faster than light?
With wormholes, this is pretty much sidestepped because nothing is actually traveling faster than light, but rather moving through a shortcut in spacetime. You're essentially cheating, so this isn't particularly interesting and doesn't really break any laws of physics from what I understand.
relativity faster-than-light causality information warp-drives
New contributor
The general consensus in the scientific community is that it is impossible to transmit information faster than light.
There is also speculation that it might be possible to open wormholes or travel faster than light with an Alcubierre Drive.
Wouldn't the first point render the second impossible? If both were valid points, you would get a contradiction because you could encode a message in the Alcubierre Drive payload (or send a messenger through a FTL spaceship) and therefore transmit information faster than light? Or is this a misunderstanding of the impossibility of transmitting information faster than light?
With wormholes, this is pretty much sidestepped because nothing is actually traveling faster than light, but rather moving through a shortcut in spacetime. You're essentially cheating, so this isn't particularly interesting and doesn't really break any laws of physics from what I understand.
relativity faster-than-light causality information warp-drives
relativity faster-than-light causality information warp-drives
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edited 2 hours ago
Qmechanic♦
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100k121811130
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asked 5 hours ago
Beefster
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Note that I am by far an expert in this area, so sorry if I do not go as deep as you would like.
The general consensus in the scientific community is that it is impossible to transmit information faster than light.
This idea comes from special relativity. If information traveled faster than the speed of light, then causality becomes all messed up. This doesn't take into account the solutions of general relativity equations of things like wormholes.
There is also speculation that it might be possible to open wormholes or travel faster than light with an Alcubierre Drive.
The idea of wormholes or an Alcubierre Drive comes from solutions to equations in general relativity. As we currently know, these things are not physically possible. But they do not violate the first point because within the local space-time of the object nothing is is actually traveling faster than the speed of light. Space-time itself is manipulated in order for this "faster than light travel" to occur.
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2
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Alcubierre Drives also cheat. They essentially shorten the distance to your destination, so even though you're not locally moving faster than c, you can get there in less time than it takes light to get there through flat space.
New contributor
So the distance is also shortened for everyone else who isn't in your spaceship? Sounds like a good way to mess up the universe.
– immibis
1 hour ago
2
@immibis Where are you getting that from? Even in special relativity, the spatial distance between points is not necessarily the same in two different frames.
– probably_someone
1 hour ago
@probably_someone "They essentially shorten the distance to your destination" - if it's only shortened for the people in the spaceship, but not for the people outside, then the people outside still see you carrying information faster than light don't they?
– immibis
45 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, your argument is correct.
1
Wikipedia says otherwise en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
– Aaron Stevens
4 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
Note that I am by far an expert in this area, so sorry if I do not go as deep as you would like.
The general consensus in the scientific community is that it is impossible to transmit information faster than light.
This idea comes from special relativity. If information traveled faster than the speed of light, then causality becomes all messed up. This doesn't take into account the solutions of general relativity equations of things like wormholes.
There is also speculation that it might be possible to open wormholes or travel faster than light with an Alcubierre Drive.
The idea of wormholes or an Alcubierre Drive comes from solutions to equations in general relativity. As we currently know, these things are not physically possible. But they do not violate the first point because within the local space-time of the object nothing is is actually traveling faster than the speed of light. Space-time itself is manipulated in order for this "faster than light travel" to occur.
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
Note that I am by far an expert in this area, so sorry if I do not go as deep as you would like.
The general consensus in the scientific community is that it is impossible to transmit information faster than light.
This idea comes from special relativity. If information traveled faster than the speed of light, then causality becomes all messed up. This doesn't take into account the solutions of general relativity equations of things like wormholes.
There is also speculation that it might be possible to open wormholes or travel faster than light with an Alcubierre Drive.
The idea of wormholes or an Alcubierre Drive comes from solutions to equations in general relativity. As we currently know, these things are not physically possible. But they do not violate the first point because within the local space-time of the object nothing is is actually traveling faster than the speed of light. Space-time itself is manipulated in order for this "faster than light travel" to occur.
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
Note that I am by far an expert in this area, so sorry if I do not go as deep as you would like.
The general consensus in the scientific community is that it is impossible to transmit information faster than light.
This idea comes from special relativity. If information traveled faster than the speed of light, then causality becomes all messed up. This doesn't take into account the solutions of general relativity equations of things like wormholes.
There is also speculation that it might be possible to open wormholes or travel faster than light with an Alcubierre Drive.
The idea of wormholes or an Alcubierre Drive comes from solutions to equations in general relativity. As we currently know, these things are not physically possible. But they do not violate the first point because within the local space-time of the object nothing is is actually traveling faster than the speed of light. Space-time itself is manipulated in order for this "faster than light travel" to occur.
Note that I am by far an expert in this area, so sorry if I do not go as deep as you would like.
The general consensus in the scientific community is that it is impossible to transmit information faster than light.
This idea comes from special relativity. If information traveled faster than the speed of light, then causality becomes all messed up. This doesn't take into account the solutions of general relativity equations of things like wormholes.
There is also speculation that it might be possible to open wormholes or travel faster than light with an Alcubierre Drive.
The idea of wormholes or an Alcubierre Drive comes from solutions to equations in general relativity. As we currently know, these things are not physically possible. But they do not violate the first point because within the local space-time of the object nothing is is actually traveling faster than the speed of light. Space-time itself is manipulated in order for this "faster than light travel" to occur.
edited 4 hours ago
answered 4 hours ago
Aaron Stevens
7,91731235
7,91731235
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Alcubierre Drives also cheat. They essentially shorten the distance to your destination, so even though you're not locally moving faster than c, you can get there in less time than it takes light to get there through flat space.
New contributor
So the distance is also shortened for everyone else who isn't in your spaceship? Sounds like a good way to mess up the universe.
– immibis
1 hour ago
2
@immibis Where are you getting that from? Even in special relativity, the spatial distance between points is not necessarily the same in two different frames.
– probably_someone
1 hour ago
@probably_someone "They essentially shorten the distance to your destination" - if it's only shortened for the people in the spaceship, but not for the people outside, then the people outside still see you carrying information faster than light don't they?
– immibis
45 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
Alcubierre Drives also cheat. They essentially shorten the distance to your destination, so even though you're not locally moving faster than c, you can get there in less time than it takes light to get there through flat space.
New contributor
So the distance is also shortened for everyone else who isn't in your spaceship? Sounds like a good way to mess up the universe.
– immibis
1 hour ago
2
@immibis Where are you getting that from? Even in special relativity, the spatial distance between points is not necessarily the same in two different frames.
– probably_someone
1 hour ago
@probably_someone "They essentially shorten the distance to your destination" - if it's only shortened for the people in the spaceship, but not for the people outside, then the people outside still see you carrying information faster than light don't they?
– immibis
45 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Alcubierre Drives also cheat. They essentially shorten the distance to your destination, so even though you're not locally moving faster than c, you can get there in less time than it takes light to get there through flat space.
New contributor
Alcubierre Drives also cheat. They essentially shorten the distance to your destination, so even though you're not locally moving faster than c, you can get there in less time than it takes light to get there through flat space.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 2 hours ago
DaveC426913
1213
1213
New contributor
New contributor
So the distance is also shortened for everyone else who isn't in your spaceship? Sounds like a good way to mess up the universe.
– immibis
1 hour ago
2
@immibis Where are you getting that from? Even in special relativity, the spatial distance between points is not necessarily the same in two different frames.
– probably_someone
1 hour ago
@probably_someone "They essentially shorten the distance to your destination" - if it's only shortened for the people in the spaceship, but not for the people outside, then the people outside still see you carrying information faster than light don't they?
– immibis
45 mins ago
add a comment |
So the distance is also shortened for everyone else who isn't in your spaceship? Sounds like a good way to mess up the universe.
– immibis
1 hour ago
2
@immibis Where are you getting that from? Even in special relativity, the spatial distance between points is not necessarily the same in two different frames.
– probably_someone
1 hour ago
@probably_someone "They essentially shorten the distance to your destination" - if it's only shortened for the people in the spaceship, but not for the people outside, then the people outside still see you carrying information faster than light don't they?
– immibis
45 mins ago
So the distance is also shortened for everyone else who isn't in your spaceship? Sounds like a good way to mess up the universe.
– immibis
1 hour ago
So the distance is also shortened for everyone else who isn't in your spaceship? Sounds like a good way to mess up the universe.
– immibis
1 hour ago
2
2
@immibis Where are you getting that from? Even in special relativity, the spatial distance between points is not necessarily the same in two different frames.
– probably_someone
1 hour ago
@immibis Where are you getting that from? Even in special relativity, the spatial distance between points is not necessarily the same in two different frames.
– probably_someone
1 hour ago
@probably_someone "They essentially shorten the distance to your destination" - if it's only shortened for the people in the spaceship, but not for the people outside, then the people outside still see you carrying information faster than light don't they?
– immibis
45 mins ago
@probably_someone "They essentially shorten the distance to your destination" - if it's only shortened for the people in the spaceship, but not for the people outside, then the people outside still see you carrying information faster than light don't they?
– immibis
45 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, your argument is correct.
1
Wikipedia says otherwise en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
– Aaron Stevens
4 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, your argument is correct.
1
Wikipedia says otherwise en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
– Aaron Stevens
4 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Yes, your argument is correct.
Yes, your argument is correct.
answered 4 hours ago
tparker
22.4k147120
22.4k147120
1
Wikipedia says otherwise en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
– Aaron Stevens
4 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Wikipedia says otherwise en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
– Aaron Stevens
4 hours ago
1
1
Wikipedia says otherwise en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
– Aaron Stevens
4 hours ago
Wikipedia says otherwise en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcubierre_drive
– Aaron Stevens
4 hours ago
add a comment |
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