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!"