Based on a loophole in physics theory, scientists are on the verge of a breakthrough in designing a spacecraft that can exceed the speed of light.
Spacecraft capable of traveling at the speed of light has been a staple of science fiction works. According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. However, scientists working at NASA Eagleworks are currently engaged in a unique project, designing a spacecraft with the potential to move faster than the speed of light.
Physicist Harold White, who leads this project, stated that they are developing a device called the Warp Drive, exploiting a theoretical loophole that allows an object to reach the speed of light without violating the laws of physics.
The Warp Drive operates based on the principle of creating a space-time distortion in front and behind the spacecraft. It compresses the space-time in front of the ship and expands it behind it. This causes space-time to move around the ship, enabling the vessel to advance at the speed of light without actually moving.
In essence, the spacecraft doesn’t move at the speed of light; instead, the space around it shifts. With this operating principle, NASA scientists have created a complete design for this future spacecraft. Essentially, it will have a main hull positioned between two large rings, which make up the Warp Drive component responsible for creating the compression and expansion of space in front and behind the spacecraft.
In an experiment, White’s research team created a ring model with capacitors in a laboratory and applied tens of thousands of volts of electrical potential. What they observed was an immense potential and a blue-shifted motion, akin to a light beam.
As of now, what NASA researchers have achieved is still experimental and theoretical. Physicists need to conduct further research to make these hypotheses more practical. Nevertheless, there is hope that research will soon yield real-world success, making humanity’s dream of exploring the universe entirely feasible in the future.