[Ford Prefect]

In other words, let's imagine up something that doesn't follow the laws of physics.

Subspace doesn't follow the laws of physics as we know them.

[ChronoReverse]

So... did you read the sentences after that?

[Rand al Thor]

I try and read as many books as I can about this type of thing. In a recent one I picked up call 'Reverse Time Travel' (cant remember by who) I was really surprised to find that travelling at lightspeed can actually get you anywhere in the galaxy in about 2 year (from your perspective of time at least) at 1Gs acceleration.

This is because of the lenght contraction that occurs as you approach the speed of light and so when you hit it the density of the universe if in effect infinate in the direction of your velocity. The only reason it takes 2 years is because with an acceleration of 1G (to make it comfortable for us) it takes a year to hit top speed and another to deccerate.

Course you got the problems of an energy source but the mass increase is not a factor if you can somehow convert a percentage of your crafts mass into energy.

Unfortunately for everyone else (and the universe) an infinate amount of time will have passed. HOWEVER, the thrust of this book was that if you can reach the light barrier you can also break it and so time will start to flow backwards on the other side. So you COULD return before you left. Or else a new universe will have been created. Either or, not really sure I understood it.

Cool though no?

[Lightspeed]

I try and read as many books as I can about this type of thing. In a recent one I picked up call 'Reverse Time Travel' (cant remember by who) I was really surprised to find that travelling at lightspeed can actually get you anywhere in the galaxy in about 2 year (from your perspective of time at least) at 1Gs acceleration.

Except the tiny tidbit that you'll never reach light speed, nor will you ever have the neccessary energy to reach values even close to it.

This is because of the lenght contraction that occurs as you approach the speed of light and so when you hit it the density of the universe if in effect infinate in the direction of your velocity. The only reason it takes 2 years is because with an acceleration of 1G (to make it comfortable for us) it takes a year to hit top speed and another to deccerate.

That would only hold true if the acceleration is constant, something you will not be able to do. Once again, read above - if you theoretically reached 'top speed' you'd be scattered around the whole universe  and experience it's end.

Unfortunately for everyone else (and the universe) an infinate amount of time will have passed. HOWEVER, the thrust of this book was that if you can reach the light barrier you can also break it and so time will start to flow backwards on the other side. So you COULD return before you left. Or else a new universe will have been created. Either or, not really sure I understood it.

Reverse time travel is not possible in that way. To do that, you need a negative amount of energy. Don't have time to fully answer this now, might do so later.

[Ford Prefect]

So... did you read the sentences after that?

After I posted.

[Swamp_Thing]

The "sleeper ship" makes more sense than lightspeed or subspace. Chances are we find a way to get our bodies into stasis a long time before we even get to travel at a fraction of lightspeed.
The best way, and the most likely to ocurr in the near future, is for Mankind to create massive ships, whole cities, with hospitals, universities, massive domes to grow trees, corn, vegetables and all our food, and generate O2, and take a crew of a few dozen couples, men and women, who procriate on the journey. Their children would then attend the schools and courses, and prepare themselfs to be the scientists and engeneers  in charge when you finally arrive at your destination.
I would volunteer in a heart beat!

[aldo_14]

Even Hawking has been known to be wrong....

So critique based on current knowledge of physics is always a bit....shoggly.

[jdjtcagle]

"ALWAYS!!!"

[Molish]

I can't help it, but when I think of sub-space jumps or creating holes in our universe, I think of Event Horizon. That movie scared the ever-living crap outta me.

[Swamp_Thing]

Originally posted by Molish
I can't help it, but when I think of sub-space jumps or creating holes in our universe, I think of Event Horizon. That movie scared the ever-living crap outta me.

You must get scared easily, then.

[Molish]

Well, it's the concept that scares me man. Movies like aliens, friday the 13th, jason, scary stuff like that never did. Those are knee-jerk reaction kinda scared, stuff you know is gonna pop out and go RAR!

Stuff like Event Horizon and The Ring scared me. Different kinda scary. The concept, thats whats scary. What would truely happen if we decided to use this type of folding space and time method of traveling? What if that is true, and it does open a gateway into hell? (a different kinda hell, but like he said "Hell is just a word. The reality is much, much worse")

Imigian how some of those people who came out of the movie theater after seing The Ring felt when they couldn't tape the movie and put it somewhere? I know atleast 15 people who did that, sadily enough, when the movie 1st came out on video.