Desert Falcon Rising - desertfalconrising.com

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Home Desert Falcon's Archives
E-mail Print
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

 

Warp Speed Will Kill You 

By Jeremy Hsu
SPACE.com Contributor
posted: 08 March 2010

08:29 am ET 

Captain Kirk might want to avoid taking the starship Enterprise to warp speed, unless he's ready to shrug off interstellar hydrogen atoms that would deliver a lethal radiation blast to both ship and crew.

There are just two hydrogen atoms per cubic centimeter on average in space, which poses no threat to spaceships traveling at low speeds. But those same lone atoms would transform into deadly galactic space mines for a spaceship that runs into them at near-light speed, according to calculations based on Einstein's special theory of relativity.

The original crew of "Star Trek" featured as unfortunate examples at a presentation by William Edelstein, a physicist at Johns Hopkins University, at the American Physical Society conference in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 13. The physicist showed a video clip of Kirk telling engineer Scotty to go to warp speed

Ads by Google
Sponsored Links
High Speed plans start at $12.95/mo No contract or credit card required
$198 homeowner's kit that power Co execs tried to outlaw in 18 states!
Concrete, lead plates or bricks Cancer Treatment Centers

"Well, they're all dead," Edelstein recalled saying. His words caused a stir among the audience.

Edelstein's personal interest in this thought experiment began 20 years ago, when his son Arthur asked him if there was friction in space. The father responded that yes, there would be hydrogen bumping off a spaceship. But he soon realized that the stray atoms of hydrogen gas would actually go right through the ship traveling close to light speed, and irradiate both crew and electronics in the process.

 
                        READ MORE:    Space.com 
Last Updated on Friday, 19 March 2010 01:23  
Related Articles

w3c.org CSS/XHTML Validator

PilotHiring.com (RSS)

  • Navajo Captain
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/Navajo-Captain-51916.html Having command of, and the responsibility for, the flight crew, passengers, cargo, the safe conduct of the flight, and providing guidance an...
  • First Officer
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/First-Officer-51264.html We are looking for non-type rated First Officers, who are willing to be based in Antalya, and meet the qualification, and requirements below...
  • HondaJet First Officer
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/HondaJet-First-Officer-51263.html Description<br>The Second-in-Command assists the PIC in operation of aircraft on trips as assigned by flight operations management, and assu...
  • ATR 72 Captain
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/ATR-72-Captain-50627.html Reciprocal jump seat program available to pilots.<br>Paid and confirmed travel to/from most major Canadian cities to the base of operation i...
  • Challenger 300 Captain
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/Challenger-300-Captain-51921.html Seeking qualified Pilot in Command candidates for a Challenger 300 aircraft based in Dallas, TX. (KDAL).<br>The Pilot in Command (PIC) holds...
  • Flight Instructor
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/Flight-Instructor-51913.html Responsibilities<br>Perform flight instruction, pre-flight planning and briefing, ground and flight lessons, post-flight debriefs, analysis ...
  • B737 First Officer
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/B737-First-Officer-52571.html Delighted to announce that we are actively recruiting for B737 Rated First Officers, who hold the unrestricted right to live and work in Mor...
  • B737NG MAX First Officer
    https://www.pilotjobs.io/pilot-jobs/B737NG-MAX-First-Officer-52563.html B737NG/MAX First Officer based in Nadi, Fiji.<br>12 months renewable contract up to 3 years<br>Day-off Program: Commuting program available<...