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From: dipirro@amber.DEC (Are we having fun yet?)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Unified Field Theory and space travel
Message-ID: <1024@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 24-Oct-85 09:05:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.1024
Posted: Thu Oct 24 09:05:55 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 26-Oct-85 03:38:02 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
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	I recently watched a program on PBS called "What Einstein Never Knew."
It was primarily a discussion of recent developments in the area of Unified
Field Theory. Physicists appear to be following several different paths.
Experimental physicists are still trying to find relationships between the
four forces in the context of the universe as we know it (and have recently
found a connection between electromagnetic and weak nuclear forces).
Theoretical physicists are proposing new universe concepts which cannot be
verified through experimentation directly. One such theory is called
"supersymmetry." It talks of all things being symmetrical in a universe which
has 10 or 11 physical dimensions, in which we see only three. Another theory
was called the "string" theory (I think) and can explain the relationship
between all four major forces.
	I'd be interested to know if any of the new theories will cause
reconsideration of some of Einstein's theories of relativity. I'm particularly
interested in the speed of light being a limiting factor for space travel.
Most people agree that as long as speed-of-light restrictions apply, it is
impractical for intelligent life forms to travel to different star systems
(unless, of course, their solar system is about to blow up).
	Before he died, Einstein was thinking about the curvature of space
due to gravity. He believed that space is warped by objects with mass. Even
light could not travel "directly" from point A to point B but had to follow
the curvature of space. That implied that if one could travel directly from
point A to point B that one could get there faster than light. However, one
need not travel faster than light-speed. This is an oversimplified view (but
I can't help that...Its how my mind works).
	It seems to me that any Unified Field Theory could help explain if
and how its possible to travel "faster than light," since it must involve
the relationship between gravity and electromagnetic forces. Could anyone
out there enlighten me? I think that space travel (particularly faster-than-
light space travel) belong here in net.space. If people disagree, we can
move the discussion elsewhere.

Steve DiPirro
Digital Equipment Corp.

"If space itself is warped, then so must I be..."