[net.space] FTL etc.

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