Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-amber!dipirro 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 Lines: 37 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..."