A new study suggests that a real-life warp drive might not be as far-fetched as we thought. The key, scientists say, is to look at the problem through the lens of Einstein’s theory of gravity: general relativity.
The star with the smallest orbit is known as S62. Its closest approach to the black hole has it moving more than 8% of light speed. S62 orbits our supermassive black hole Sagittarius A every ten years.
The hydrogen ions travel at 99.999,999,1 per cent of the speed of light. Their time slows down by a factor of 27,777,778. One second for one of these protons is about 11 months for us.
Dr. Harold "Sonny" White, the Advanced Propulsion Theme Lead for the NASA Engineering Directorate has said that "a Star Trek experience within our lifetime is not such a remote possibility."
(PhysOrg.com) -- As conventional accelerators like CERN
