Research Group Proposes Way to Travel Faster than Speed of Light
2021-03-18
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1In science fiction movies, there are many examples of spaceships racing through space at the speed of light or faster.
2But is faster-than-light travel possible?
3A new research paper written by an American physicist has proposed a theory for how faster-than-light travel could be possible.
4The research was carried out by Erik Lentz, who did the work at Germany's University of Goettingen.
5Lentz and his team believe that travel to distant stars and planets could be possible in the future.
6But this can happen only if space vehicles travel faster than the speed of light.
7Light can travel at about 300,000 kilometers in one second.
8Physicist Albert Einstein's famous theory of relativity suggests that it is not possible to travel faster than light.
9As a result, the latest research on the subject has centered on theories beyond normal explanations of matter.
10They call for "hypothetical particles" and states of matter with unusual physical properties to permit faster-than-light travel.
11This kind of matter either cannot be found or cannot be manufactured in necessary amounts, the paper states.
12The new paper places more importance not on theoretical research, but on a possible engineering solution.
13The research describes a plan to permit superfast travel by creating a series of, what the researchers call, solitons to provide the basis for a powerful propulsion system.
14A soliton is a compact wave that keeps its speed and shape while moving with little loss of energy.
15The research suggests that such a method could permit travel at any speed.
16The results recently appeared in the publication Classical and Quantum Gravity.
17The method "uses the very structure of space and time arranged in a soliton to provide a solution to faster-than-light travel," said a press release explaining the process.
18Lentz told Reuters news agency that such a "warp drive" technology could be used to sharply reduce travel times.
19That could make future travel to distant space objects possible.
20The nearest star beyond our solar system is Proxima Centauri.
21It is about 4.25 light years away.
22A light year is the distance it takes light to travel in one year.
23Lentz said that using traditional rocket fuel, it would take about 50,000 to 70,000 years to reach Proxima Centauri.
24A trip using nuclear propulsion technology would take about 100 years, he said.
25But a light speed trip would take only four years and three months, Lentz added.
26The researchers' plan promises the hope of faster-than-light-speed travel, which could lead to "distant interstellar travel within a human lifetime."
27Lentz said a lot of work will be needed to make the method become a reality.
28To be useful, it would require lowering the energy needed down to the level of modern nuclear power reactors.
29A way to develop and speed up the solitons must also be created, he added.
30Lentz sees the research and development process as difficult, but not impossible.
31He said additional steps could happen over the next several years, with a fully operational version possible within the next 10 years.
32He added that the first truly light speed trips could be tested in the years afterward.
33"I would like to see this technology in use in my lifetime," Lentz said.
34I'm Bryan Lynn.
1In science fiction movies, there are many examples of spaceships racing through space at the speed of light or faster. But is faster-than-light travel possible? 2A new research paper written by an American physicist has proposed a theory for how faster-than-light travel could be possible. The research was carried out by Erik Lentz, who did the work at Germany's University of Goettingen. 3Lentz and his team believe that travel to distant stars and planets could be possible in the future. But this can happen only if space vehicles travel faster than the speed of light. 4Light can travel at about 300,000 kilometers in one second. Physicist Albert Einstein's famous theory of relativity suggests that it is not possible to travel faster than light. 5As a result, the latest research on the subject has centered on theories beyond normal explanations of matter. They call for "hypothetical particles" and states of matter with unusual physical properties to permit faster-than-light travel. 6This kind of matter either cannot be found or cannot be manufactured in necessary amounts, the paper states. The new paper places more importance not on theoretical research, but on a possible engineering solution. 7The research describes a plan to permit superfast travel by creating a series of, what the researchers call, solitons to provide the basis for a powerful propulsion system. A soliton is a compact wave that keeps its speed and shape while moving with little loss of energy. 8The research suggests that such a method could permit travel at any speed. The results recently appeared in the publication Classical and Quantum Gravity. 9The method "uses the very structure of space and time arranged in a soliton to provide a solution to faster-than-light travel," said a press release explaining the process. 10Lentz told Reuters news agency that such a "warp drive" technology could be used to sharply reduce travel times. That could make future travel to distant space objects possible. 11The nearest star beyond our solar system is Proxima Centauri. It is about 4.25 light years away. A light year is the distance it takes light to travel in one year. 12Lentz said that using traditional rocket fuel, it would take about 50,000 to 70,000 years to reach Proxima Centauri. A trip using nuclear propulsion technology would take about 100 years, he said. But a light speed trip would take only four years and three months, Lentz added. 13The researchers' plan promises the hope of faster-than-light-speed travel, which could lead to "distant interstellar travel within a human lifetime." 14Lentz said a lot of work will be needed to make the method become a reality. To be useful, it would require lowering the energy needed down to the level of modern nuclear power reactors. A way to develop and speed up the solitons must also be created, he added. 15Lentz sees the research and development process as difficult, but not impossible. He said additional steps could happen over the next several years, with a fully operational version possible within the next 10 years. 16He added that the first truly light speed trips could be tested in the years afterward. "I would like to see this technology in use in my lifetime," Lentz said. 17I'm Bryan Lynn. 18Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English, with additional information from Goettingen University. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 19We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 20________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22hypothetical - adj. involving or based on a suggested idea or theory; based on a hypothesis 23propulsion - n. a force that moves something forward 24compact - adj. smaller than other things of the same kind 25arrange - adj. organized in a certain order or position 26warp - adj. related to speed that is extremely fast, even faster than light, usually found in works of science fiction 27interstellar - adj. between the stars 28prototype - n. a first model of something that serves as the basis for future developments