Can Spacetime Equations Be Interfered With to Propel Mass?

[narrator]

Hi,

Amateur here. I think Sheldon has reignited my long dormant interest in physics. ;)

Trying to understand just how rigid the spacetime equation is. Is there a way to create interference? Add a variable, the same way adding a proton to a molecule changes the element? I'm thinking that if you could create a local distortion near a mass, it could propel that mass, perhaps with no inertia. A large enough distortion could maybe move a planet. Wild idea?

 

[NlCK]

Are you familiar with http://www.google.com/search?q=Alcubierre+drive"?

 

[narrator]

Are you familiar with http://www.google.com/search?q=Alcubierre+drive"?

Wow! Thanks Nick.. you've given me a lot to read. Truly fascinating stuff! And lol.. love the idea that a naked singularity would take the lead.

 

[Chalnoth]

Are you familiar with http://www.google.com/search?q=Alcubierre+drive"?

Of course, this does require exotic matter, there is no known way to make the matter that makes up the "warp bubble" remain in the shape of a bubble, and the energy requirements are absolutely absurd.

But it is kinda neat that you can write down something that looks like a Warp Drive on paper :)

 

[narrator]

What got me thinking was the sightings of a UFO over Temple Mount in Jerusalem, as captured from several angles by different people (see YouTube). Fascinating if true.. who knows. UFO's have long been reported as being able to achieve ridiculous acceleration (if you can even call it acceleration - it's like they go from zero to Mach 1 almost instantly, but without the sonic boom).

Supposing for a minute they are real. The only way I can think of to achieve such controlled movement is through some sort of spacetime engineering. Would there be other ways?

 

[Chalnoth]

What got me thinking was the sightings of a UFO over Temple Mount in Jerusalem, as captured from several angles by different people (see YouTube). Fascinating if true.. who knows. UFO's have long been reported as being able to achieve ridiculous acceleration (if you can even call it acceleration - it's like they go from zero to Mach 1 almost instantly, but without the sonic boom).

Supposing for a minute they are real. The only way I can think of to achieve such controlled movement is through some sort of spacetime engineering. Would there be other ways?

Nah, UFO sightings are nonsensical. They are either easily debunked (e.g. the object was actually closer to the camera than it first appears, or is some other well-known object), or the evidence is just so flimsy as to be nonexistant.

And when you consider how absurdly easy it would be to determine that aliens actually had visited us (all we'd need is to sequence the DNA of a single cell), we can be pretty certain that they haven't yet.

Additionally, the "warp drive", though it kinda sort of works on paper, is pure fantasy when it comes to practical fact.

 

[narrator]

Nah, UFO sightings are nonsensical.
...
Additionally, the "warp drive", though it kinda sort of works on paper, is pure fantasy when it comes to practical fact.

I tend to agree that UFO's are a bit of a stretch. That was just background to the question at the end of the post, regarding other possible ways to achieve such controlled movement other than through spacetime engineering.

But on the UFO segue, the footage of the Jerusalem Temple Mount UFO, taken from different parts of the city, is pretty spectacular. Regardless of the eventual explanation, it's pretty cool. ;)

 

[Chalnoth]

I tend to agree that UFO's are a bit of a stretch. That was just background to the question at the end of the post, regarding other possible ways to achieve such controlled movement other than through spacetime engineering.

But on the UFO segue, the footage of the Jerusalem Temple Mount UFO, taken from different parts of the city, is pretty spectacular. Regardless of the eventual explanation, it's pretty cool. ;)

That footage was faked, by the way:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/02/09/holy-ufo-hoax/

 

[narrator]

lol.. cool.. an impressive fake