Webb@Cmu-20c@sri-unix (08/08/82)
From: Jon Webb <Webb at Cmu-20c> I agree. Let's stop talking about faster-than-light devices, attempts to disprove relativity and quantum mechanics, and so on. I suspect that people suggesting such things know very little of the math behind the theories, and are relying on vague popularizations for their information. Please, let's talk about the shuttle and serious attempts to develop our local space, like colonization of the moon and the L-5 points, and stop sounding like fools. Jon
sjb (08/08/82)
Am I to believe my ears?! Are you people serious?! What in the world would happen if we all took that view? What would have happened if people said, ``Hmmm, let's stop talking about this silly theory that the Earth revolves around the sun and get back to thrashing people who rock the boat''! Jes, if we just stopped talking about things that aren't possible now, where in the world where we be in 100 years?! Come on, people!
donald (08/08/82)
There is a big difference between informed discussion and wild speculation. The recent slew of articles on FTL fall into the latter category: the people out to "get" relativity and quantum mechanics have very little knowledge of how they work. They merely seem to take notions gleaned from SF and popular science magazines to try a find a loophole in physics so that their pet peeve (FTL travel) is "possible". No attempt is made to formalize their arguments mathematically or replace the physical theories that they demolish. THAT is the diffence between Galileo and Erich Von Daniken, or between Einstein and Velikovsky. The scientific crank's favorite defence is a comparison between himself and Copernicus and a plea for "free inquiry" or "open minds". Sorry for the flames, but I don't wish to see net.space go the way of net.misc (you people with the persistence to stick with net.misc should know what I mean!) Don Chan
mkg (08/09/82)
I have two comments for those who think FTL is "impossible" 1) Someone once said that if man was meant to fly, God would have given him wings. 2) "The only things that are impossible are those which have not yet been perfected" ( forget where I heard this). Please, lets not be so narrow minded. Marsh Gosnell BTL Piscataway (201) 981-2758 npois!pyuxbb!mkg
Webb@Cmu-20c@sri-unix (08/11/82)
From: Jon Webb <Webb at Cmu-20c> BTW, if you really want to understand relativity, there are two good books to start with: Relativity and Common Sense, by Hermann Bondi The Einstein Theory of Relativity, by Lillian and Hugh Lieber Neither book uses much math beyond calculus. I suspect that anyone, after reading these books, can make sense out of the original papers with some effort. I don't have a reference for quantum mechanics; I suspect the math is quite a bit harder. Jon