 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Mysteries of the Milky Way
Europa
Beyond Hubble
A look inside the universe
Apollo
Apollo 11Apollo 12Apollo 13Apollo 14Apollo 15Apollo 16Apollo 17In Memory of Alan ShepardAstronomy
Black HolesDark MatterAstronomy UpdatesAstrophysics
Quantum GravityQuantum MechanicsGeneral RelativityBlack Hole ThermodynamicsComments
Advertise With The StarGateFaster than light
Worm HoleswormholesTraveling To Other StarsSatellites
PhobosDeimosMoonTritonNeriedTitanCallistoSpace Crafts
Mars Global SurveyorGalileoMars Polar Space ProbePioneer 10Mars PathfinderDeep Space 1StarDustVoyager 2CassiniMars Climate OrbiterUlyssesThe systems of our world
VenusMercuryEarthMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptunePlutoThe Missions to Mars|
|
| FASTER THAN LIGHT |
| ||||||
| HAVE WORMHOLE, WILL TRAVEL The thoughts, of Geoffrey Landis- One of Landis's specialties--more like a hobby really--is wormholes.The equations of Einstein's theory allow for distortions in space time--as the three dimensions of space and one dimension of time are referred to.Any piece of matter distorts space-time, and a really massive hunk of matter--say, Earth--distorts it so much that it produces then effect we call gravity. A decade ago, however, scientists began to entertain the idea that if you went on a amassing more and more matter is a smaller and smaller volume, you'd continue to distort space-time until, eventually, you might even rip a hole in it. Don't try too hard to imagine a hole in space-time--thinking in four dimensions will only give you a headache. Instead consider an analogy in two dimensions: imagine we live in a universe that is as flat as a piece of paper.If you want to get from point A to point B on the piece of paper, the quickest route is a straight line. Now think of the paper being stretchy, like rubber. A high concentration of matter distorts this flat rubber universe as would the tip of a pencil: push it into the rubber at point A and it makes a depression. The more matter the further into the rubber the pencil will go. Push it far enough and it pokes a hole. For this hole to be considered a wormhole, you need two more things. First you need to poke another hole in some other part of the rubber sheet--say, point B. And second, you need to fold the sheet so that the two holes line up right next to each other. That's a wormhole. Suddenly the quickest way between point A and point B is a straight line, but a much more briefer excursion through the wormhole. We aren't likely to build a wormhole. For one thing, it would take too much energy--as much as would be released by annihilating Jupiter, and even then you'd only end up with a wormhole three feet wide. (Never mind that it would take negative energy.) Discover Magazine |
| The Prøjects | |
 |
|
 Sign Guestbook |
 View Guestbook |
|
. |
| Visitors: 09549 |