space travel

[davesalt]

can humans ever travel faster than light?

[factor-fiction]

If they did wouldn't they be able to look back and see themselves before they had left?

[johne1892]

Oh Factor I am expecting big things of you for this question!

A simple answer Dave is 'can they travel faster than light now'? No.

Will they ever physically be able to travel faster than light? I personally doubt it.

[DTCwordfan]

think of the possibilities - look up your own *** and then you can say "been there, done that."

[squarebear]

No

[sddsddean]

According to Einstein's theories on relativity, no, but they are just theories!

[rov1100]

When we talk about space travel we always assume its the human form that is transported. It was reported in the scientific press this week that DNA arrived on the Earth via comets or asteroids. With just a bit of imaginative thinking a package containing a whole species could be transported this way.

We no longer need to wonder how a human could exist in outer space for many years because the DNA would remain intact.

We could do this ourselves. Just a swab from the mouth and send it to one of the passing asteroids or comets. The technology is all do-able. today.

[Tim123]

Maybe...

http://www.space.com/...drive-impossible.html

[beso]

sddsddean: According to Einstein's theories on relativity, no, but they are just theories!

Relativity has been proved beyond question. It has successfully predicted the truth about many unexpected phenomena. It has everyday implications. Without the adjustment in the calculating the variation in the passage of time due to Relativistic motion of the satellites the Global Positioning System would not work.

Any theory that replaces it will be an expansion not a replacement.

Many people misunderstand the speed of light. It is not a speed in the familiar sense of the word but a fundamental property of space time in our Universe.

In fact it is the only speed in the Universe. Everything is always travelling at the speed of light. Those things which are stationary relative to us are travelling with us at the speed of light in the direction of Time.

BTW, Anyone who refers to "just a theory" in regard to science does not understand the meaning of "theory" in this context. Theories are those hypotheses that have become accepted as being correct.

[jomifl]

Factor 30.. how could they look back, the light would be so red shifted that it wouldn't exist.

[R1Geezer]

dunno what that's got to do with the speed of light rov, comets etc don;t go at c!.

The answer is almost certainly, no, current understanding is pretty solid, relativity has passed all the tests so far. However it is just a theory and they can be replaced.

[McMouse]

<<can humans ever travel faster than light? >> Depends what they're on.

[vascop]

I totally agree with beso and the ridiculousness of saying "it's just a theory"