Faster Than Light (FTL) technology has been constricted to the realms of science fiction, but it is theoretically possible, according to one researcher. The research, carried out by Joseph Agnew, an undergraduate engineer and research assistant from the University of Alabama in Huntsvilles Propulsion Research Center (PRC), builds on the expertise of Mexican physicist Miguel Alcubierre. Mr Alcubierre established a concept for an FTL system back in 1994 which was built on Einsteins field equations.

Essentially, the equations dictate that space, time and energy all interact and Mr Alcubierre believed they could be manipulated to travel faster than the speed of light a staggering 299,792,458 metres per second.

Mr Alcubierres warp drive technology would involve stretching the fabric of space-time to form a wave.

Theoretically, the space ahead of the ship would contract while behind it would expand. This would mean that the ship is not moving, but moving space-time itself.

It has now become known as the Alcubierre Metric which involves riding the wave of space-time to achieve FTL travel.

The theory seemed improbable at the time, but the discovery of gravitational wave proved that space-time can warp, as per special relativity.

Mr Agnew told Universe Today: The historically theoretical nature of the idea is also itself a likely deterrent, as its much more difficult to see substantial progress when you are looking at equations instead of quantitative results.

In the past 5-10 years or so, there has been a lot of excellent progress along the lines of predicting the anticipated effects of the drive, determining how one might bring it into existence, reinforcing fundamental assumptions and concepts, and, my personal favourite, ways to test the theory in a laboratory.

The LIGO discovery a few years back was, in my opinion, a huge leap forward in science, since it proved, experimentally, that spacetime can warp and bend in the presence of enormous gravitational fields, and this is propagated out across the Universe in a way that we can measure.

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Before, there was an understanding that this was likely the case, thanks to Einstein, but we know for certain now.

In essence, what is needed for a warp drive is a way to expand and contract spacetime at will, and in a local manner, such as around a small object or ship.

I believe there is a chance that once the effect can be duplicated on a lab scale, it will lead to a much deeper understanding of how gravity works, and may open the door to some as-yet-undiscovered theories or loopholes.

I suppose to summarise, the biggest hurdle is the energy, and with that comes technological hurdles, needing bigger EM fields, more sensitive equipment, etc.

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An EM field is an electromagnetic field produced by electrically charged objects. An EM Drive works by bouncing microwaves around inside a closed engine. The microwaves subsequently push against the side of the container, acting as a propellor.

Even if travelling at light speed can be achieved for reference the fastest man-made machine is NASAs Solar Probe Plus which, when it orbits the Sun, will achieve a speed of 690,000 km/h (430,000 mph), or 0.064 percent the speed of light getting across the Universe would still be problematic.

It may make travelling across the solar system a doddle, but to reach the nearest star system, Proxima Centauri which is 4.2 light-years away, it would take, well, 4.2 years.

To exit the Milky Way and reach the next nearest galaxy, the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy, it would take a whopping 25,000 years.

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Space travel across the universe could be faster than speed of light with Warp Drive - Express.co.uk