Aliens

[GoktimusPrime]

Light speed. Apparantly it can't be done because it violates Einsteins theory of relativity. Nothing can or will move faster then the speed of light.

Theoretically subatomic particles like tachyons might be able to move faster than the speed of light. That's the theory behind faster than light propulsion systems, like warp drives.

Black Holes are named because nothing can escape them even light. Yet Hawking Radiation does escape them. If light is the fastest speed in the universe and nothing can move faster then light then where does that leave Hawking Radiation? It moves fast enough to escape a Black Hole and yet Light can not.

All forms of electromagnetic radiation (including light) can travel at the speed of light (in a vacuum). That's why in the book Transformers and Philosophy (available now from all good book stores!) and as discussed in the discussion thread about this book, it's more logical that visitation from an alien species would be from a non-biological species; because biological species would be too frail to survive vast travel through space unless:

+ They use suspended animation
+ They fold space (like in Macross/Robotech or Event Horizon) -- the Transwarp Drive technology used in Beast Wars appears to be use some kind of space fold (as we see a kind of 'wormhole' appear.
+ They use faster-than-light propulsion (e.g. warp drive, hyperdrive etc.)

But robotic forms of life like Transformers can easily survive vast travels through space because they're effectively immortal (Transformers, like elves, are long lived and only die if slain). Look at movieverse Megatron -- he flew under his own power from Cybertron to Earth in pursuit of the AllSpark!! As Transformers and Philosophy also points out, an even higher form of life than robotic life would be energy. Beings made from energy themselves - if they exhibited similar properties as electromagnetic radiation or even subatomic particles, move at or beyond the speed of light. The Vok are possibly an example of energy beings; they did say that they have no physical form (hence why they appeared to Optimus Primal in the form of Unicron's head and later made contact through their emissary Tigerhawk). Although Vok transmissions apparently still use some kind of space fold/wormhole thing. <shrug>



...oh, and Drift can also travel beyond the speed of light... just cos ya know... he's Drift.
"That's why I hate science fiction!"

[klystron]

Theoretically subatomic particles like tachyons might be able to move faster than the speed of light. That's the theory behind faster than light propulsion systems, like warp drives.

Depending upon which theory (or theories) you subscribe to will determine whether you think tachyons are likely to be too unstable to exist.
And even if they did, they could probably only be used for the FTL transmission of information, which would lead to violations of the causality principle.
Google the "tachyon telephone paradox."

Nothing moves faster than the speed of light.

[GoktimusPrime]

Nothing moves faster than the speed of light.

'Cept Drift's kicks.

[LordCyrusOmega]

Just because current research denies that nothing moves faster then the speed of light doesn't make it so.
We are using physics and its denominations to measure the physical universe. But no matter how deep we go it will always be from the perspective of humans. We had to invent extra dimensions of space in order to make the math work.
I'm not saying Einstein got it wrong. I'm just saying that given how young (in the scheme of things) physics is that it would be premature to take current theories of gospel as they only work from our perspective.
Just my opinion...I'm wrong again, aren't I?

[Hursticon]

Just because current research denies that nothing moves faster then the speed of light doesn't make it so.
We are using physics and its denominations to measure the physical universe. But no matter how deep we go it will always be from the perspective of humans. We had to invent extra dimensions of space in order to make the math work.
I'm not saying Einstein got it wrong. I'm just saying that given how young (in the scheme of things) physics is that it would be premature to take current theories of gospel as they only work from our perspective.
Just my opinion...I'm wrong again, aren't I?

No dude, you're dead right and unlike other things which tend to be etched in stone - Science is always open to re-evaluation and re-writing.
(Somethings are just easier than others it seems )

[Demonac]

There is actually a really good series about this called 'Wonders of the Universe'.

[klystron]

Just because current research denies that nothing moves faster then the speed of light doesn't make it so.
We are using physics and its denominations to measure the physical universe. But no matter how deep we go it will always be from the perspective of humans. We had to invent extra dimensions of space in order to make the math work.
I'm not saying Einstein got it wrong. I'm just saying that given how young (in the scheme of things) physics is that it would be premature to take current theories of gospel as they only work from our perspective.
Just my opinion...I'm wrong again, aren't I?

No you're not wrong. In fact you're dead right. However, we can speculate and dream and hypothesize whatever we want. Fact is, at the moment science tells us that nothing moves faster than the speed of light. Sure this may change in the future as we learn more (etc), but at the moment we are "limited" (?) by what we know.
I am open to all possibilities - I definitely think there is more to know and we currently don't understand enough, but I also draw a line in the sand between fact and fiction (science and fantasy). No doubt this line will move over the course of my lifetime...
Without "the line," conversations like this become boundless and you can dream up whatever you like.

[LordCyrusOmega]

I understand the need for 'The Line'. Without it we would branch out into Science Fiction without studying the facts. So I concede that in the present tense nothing moves faster then light in a vacuum.

Seeing as how faster then light travel is not permitted by Einsteins Theory of Relativity the only way another form of intelligence life could get here was either by developing at a faster rate then us or by bending time/space. Perpetual Motion is ruled out as it goes against the Conservation of Energy rule. So where does the power come from to get them from point A to point B?

Second if intelligent life has been visiting us then why are they so secretive? They would have the power to destroy us if need be. Why not say hello?

[Demonac]

Seeing as how faster then light travel is not permitted by Einsteins Theory of Relativity the only way another form of intelligence life could get here was either by developing at a faster rate then us or by bending time/space. Perpetual Motion is ruled out as it goes against the Conservation of Energy rule. So where does the power come from to get them from point A to point B?

Second if intelligent life has been visiting us then why are they so secretive? They would have the power to destroy us if need be. Why not say hello?

Alien life could get here the old fashioned way.
Cryogenics, or colony ships.
Those 2 options are somewhat feasible.

They are so secretive because it is they that are running things. Our leaders are all aliens!

[klystron]

I understand the need for 'The Line'. Without it we would branch out into Science Fiction without studying the facts. So I concede that in the present tense nothing moves faster then light in a vacuum.

Seeing as how faster then light travel is not permitted by Einsteins Theory of Relativity the only way another form of intelligence life could get here was either by developing at a faster rate then us or by bending time/space. Perpetual Motion is ruled out as it goes against the Conservation of Energy rule. So where does the power come from to get them from point A to point B?

Second if intelligent life has been visiting us then why are they so secretive? They would have the power to destroy us if need be. Why not say hello?

Maybe they don't make contact due to that Star Trek Prime Directive thing - no interfering with other species (I'm not a trekky but I'm sure its something like that).

Power could come from dark matter, WIMPs, or dark energy itself perhaps. Or quantum fluctuations - particle/antiparticle pairs that pop into existance for a short time and annihilate each other. (These also form the basis of Hawking radiation which someone else has mentioned already in this thread).
Even though these things might exist, harnessing them as a source of propulsion power is still on the other side of "the line" in the realms of science fiction.
See, I can cross my own line from time to time.