Book Description
Written for amateur physicists, SlipString Drive takes you through the basics of string and M-theories so that you can embark on a "faster than light" voyage without violating physics. By using gravity waves to completely isolate volumes of spacetime from the rest of the universe, author Andrew L. Bender proposes a method of travel-similar to going through a wormhole-that could be possible within fifty years. He also details a unique engine design for producing the gravity waves necessary to travel in such a manner.
In SlipString Drive, Bender describes how ships using this method of propulsion would appear to those outside of the ship's partially "gravitationally isolated" region of space while maneuvering at slow speeds. Bender also discusses novel uses for such a vessel, such as saving humanity from comets to supernovae.
Bender also offers a "Membrane Theory of Gravity." A modification of M-theory, this new theory unifies all forces, and predicts dark matter and energy. It also theorizes how the acceleration of our universe will change over time, along with other predictions that could prove modified M-theory correct observationally-a feat no other cosmologist has yet achieved. Finally, Bender hypothesizes how the universe will end, and how our descendants could survive that fateful occurrence.
Customer Reviews:
Simple enough for beginners.......2007-03-09
This is an interesting and intrigueing intro into String Theory. Having no background in quantum mechanics, I still found it informative enough to give me a good idea about its message. It is necessary to accept some things on faith, but once done, it is possible to follow the reasoning. I will reread it in the months to come to ensure I have gleaned as much from the book as I can.
thoughtful, infectious, and mind-expanding.......2007-01-11
SlipString Drive is a highly readable book which offers both a theoretical refinement of M-theory and an important practical application with dramatic implications for the future of intelligent life in the universe.
Along the way, Bender takes the reader on a tour of the sexiest topics of modern physics: the early universe, the large-scale distribution of matter, black hole physics, quantum entanglement, the impact of human life with the ecosystem of the earth, UFOs, the Star Trek/Gene Roddenberry philosophy of life, and our ability to survive the death of the Sun through interstellar travel.
Like many profound ideas in physics, Bender starts from a simple assumption and follows it to its logical conclusion. In this case, he asks what would happen if gravity were due to the curvature of our membrane caused by vibrating strings of matter. By framing the concept in terms of strings interacting with the membrane, he eliminates the need for "other" universes to theoretically explain the empirical effect of gravity, providing a more intellectually satisfying concept than the existing M-theory explanation which involves "disappearing" gravitons exiting our brane and permeating the bulk.
Following recent theories of the early universe in which big bang can be understood as a collision between branes, Bender applies this membrane theory of gravity. The massive transfer of energy from the collision, he asserts, would give rise to enormous vibrating ripples in the membrane, which would in turn cause a rapid contraction of the brane followed by its expansion as the collision's waves dissipate throughout the brane over time. This explains the expansion of the universe, dark matter and dark energy as intrinsic properties of spacetime itself, and provides a means of testing the theory since as time goes on the energy of vibration of the membrane should be transferred to the expansion of the universe as those vibrations dissipate.
In addition to the "big splash" inducing ripples in our membrane, a portion of the energy was transferred to virtual strings, creating real strings (of matter) in realistic proportions - more matter than antimatter because of the disparate energies required to vibrate strings in matter or antimatter configurations. Bender also suggests that surveys of the cosmic microwave background radiation - currently theorized to be a picture of the universe several hundred thousand years after the big bang (when things had cooled sufficiently to allow atoms to form) - may actually be representations of a much earlier time, effectively near the time of the impact itself.
SlipString Drive, as its name suggests, also describes a novel form of propulsion based on the concept of gravity waves repelling matter by compressing spacetime. By generating gravity waves of sufficient magnitude which superpose constructively at points outside a ship, you should be able to repel spacetime sufficiently to "pinch yourself off" from spacetime in an isolated "mini-universe" of your own. Now residing in your own spacetime, you would not be bound by laws pertaining to motion within the spacetime of the universe, since you are now isolated from it.
This method of propulsion would theoretically be testable using existing matter (tungsten) though it would work best with exotic superheavy matter. The detailed description of the prototype is therefore not equivalent to completely hypothetical exotic drives such as the magnetic monopole drive ("if only we had the monopole...") and is conceptually distinct from other theorized warp drives which require one to abandon special relativity or embrace radical counterintuitive concepts like negative energy. It is also distinct from proposed effects like the Alcubierre device which are dependent on hypothetical regions of space of unclear methods of generation and which may not be energetically feasible at macroscopic length scales.
From cover to cover, SlipString Drive is a conceptual romp - a must read for anyone who has ever wondered "what if faster than light travel were possible" - thoughtful, infectious, and mind-expanding.
Faster Than Light travel and a Theory of Everything to boot!.......2006-12-30
It's nice to read a book that takes complicated ideas and theories and communicates them in a way that makes sense to someone without a physics background.
The discussion and explanation of String Theory and Membrane Theory was new to me. With these ideas laid out, Bender's book then attempts to tackle a "Theory of Everything" by making modifications to existing Membrane theory. He gives you a lot to chew on about how our universe started and where it is going.
My favorite part of the book is the chapter that describes how a Faster Than Light drive (the Slipstring Drive of the title) could be made and powered. I love the idea that the concepts in this book could be used to create a real Slipstring Drive. I just hope I'm around to see it.
If you are interested in what makes the universe work, you'll enjoy this book.
An amazing accomplishment.......2006-12-16
Before reading this book, the only string theory I knew was what very little I saw on TV. This book not only brings you up to speed on string theory, but also proposes a change that could make string theory complete. After reading it a few times, the universe finally makes sense to me. By using descriptions you can "see" in your head as well as illustrations to assist you, this book makes all the strange concepts of dark matter and dark energy understandable. I never understood why the laws of physics worked the way they do until I read this book. Bender's membrane theory of gravity explains the reasons behind the physics. While his chapter on membrane gravity isn't exactly light reading, it's probably as light as is humanly possible, considering the subject. It took me a couple readings, but I think I finally get it.
Bender's theories about "faster than light" travel are the best hope for us yet to be able to explore our universe. He describes many uses for his gravity wave propelled ships, many of which could save us from disaster. He even describes medical uses for the gravity waves created by his engine. Talk about the practical benefits of science - this could completely change medicine as we know it. Bender's descriptions of the workings of his engine are detailed and they make sense. I hope I'll see one working in my lifetime - I want to fly it!
Some parts of the book can get a bit difficult at times, but it's mostly just one chapter that gave me the most difficulty. After digesting it for a while and then reading it again, I was able to understand how our and many other universes could be created from next to nothing. It's really amazing.
If you have any interest in string theory, relativity, black holes, how the universe began and will end, and even in science fiction or space travel, than this book is for you. You can get by without knowing very much about physics or astronomy. If you're already a physics or string theory expert, than this book probably is not for you. However, even the experts should read this book, as it explains the entire universe, and until now, they haven't been able to put all the pieces together.
An amazing accomplishment.......2006-12-15
Before reading this book, the only string theory I knew was what very little I saw on TV. This book not only brings you up to speed on string theory, but also proposes a change that makes string theory complete. After reading it a few times, the universe finally makes sense to me. By using descriptions you can "see" in your head as well as illustrations to assist the reader, this book makes all the strange concepts of dark matter and dark energy understandable. I never understood why the laws of physics worked the way they do until I read this book. Bender's membrane theory of gravity explains the reasons behind the physics. While his chapter on membrane gravity isn't exactly light reading, it's as light as is humanly possible, considering the subject. It took me a couple readings, but I think I finally get it.
Bender's theories about "faster than light" travel are the best hope for us yet to be able to explore universe. He describes many uses for his gravity wave propelled ships, many of which could save us from disaster. He even describes medical uses for the gravity waves created by his engine. Talk about the practical benefits of science - this could completely change medicine as we know it. Bender's descriptions of the workings of his engine are detailed and they make sense. I hope I'll see one working in my lifetime - I want to fly it!
Some parts of the book can get a bit difficult at times, but it's mostly just one chapter that gave me the most difficulty. After digesting it for a while and then reading it again, I was able to understand how our and many other universes could be created from next to nothing. It's really amazing.
If you have any interest in string theory, relativity, black holes, how the universe began and will end, and even in science fiction and space travel, than this book is for you. You can get by without knowing too much about physics or astronomy. If you're already a physics or string theory expert, than this book probably is not for you. However, even the experts should read this book, as it explains the entire universe, and until now, they haven't been able to put all the pieces together.
Amazon.com
Among physicists, it is widely assumed that one's greatest chance for a breakthrough discovery will come before one reaches the age of 30. True or not, this idea leads young physicists such as João Magueijo to pull out all the intellectual stops in the search for glory and immortality. In Faster Than the Speed of Light, Magueijo reveals the short, brilliant history of his possibly groundbreaking speculation--VSL, or Variable Light Speed. This notion--that the speed of light changed as the universe expanded after the Big Bang--contradicts no less prominent a figure than Albert Einstein. Because of this, Magueijo has suffered more than a few slings and arrows from hidebound, jealous, or perplexed colleagues. But the young scientist persisted, found a few important allies, and finally managed to shake up the establishment enough to get the attention he merited and craved. Magueijo begins the book with a suitably accessible explanation of special and general relativity, then moves on to the ideas that laid the groundwork for VSL. In the process, he rips the doors off of scientific academia and airs quite a bit of dirty laundry. Comparing himself to Einstein throughout the book, Magueijo approaches his topic and its dissemination with cocksure genius, expecting readers to sympathize with him as he battles to win favor. And we do. The scientific process is "rigorous, competitive, emotional, and argumentative," writes Magueijo. His theory could knock down two solid pillars of cosmology--inflation and relativity. Not only does his radical notion deserve a trial by fire, it also deserves a champion like Magueijo, who isn't afraid of the flames. --Therese Littleton
Book Description
What if the speed of light—now accepted as one of the unchanging foundations of modern physics—were not constant? Brilliant young physicist João Magueijo puts forth the heretical idea that light once traveled faster, in the very early days of the universe—an idea that may dethrone Einstein and forever change our understanding of the universe. Solving the most intractable problems of cosmology in one brilliant leap, Magueijo's varying-speed-of-light theory (VSL) could have truly marvelous implications for space travel, black holes, time dilation, and string theory—and could help uncover the grand unified theory that ultimately eluded Einstein. Faster Than the Speed of Light tells the remarkable story of Magueijo's struggle to understand how the universe works, to challenge long-established ideas, and to fight to have his bold new vision accepted.
Customer Reviews:
Personal & Spiritual Journey of a Cosmologist in the Discovery of VSL Theory.......2007-06-13
This is a fascinating story of a young cosmologist who dared to challenge Einstein's most sacred laws of physics; the speed of light in vacuum is a universal constant. In human experience; space and time are perceived as universally rigid, but Einstein proposed that space & time; space-time could expand or contract but speed of light remains unchanged. On occasions many physicists have wondered, and debated that Varying Speed of Light (VSL) is an alternative explanation to inflation theory. A notable proponent is John Moffat who first expressed this idea to none other than father of relativity himself. Einstein responded by saying that "Every individual has to retain his way of thinking if he does not want to get lost in the maze of possibilities. However, nobody is sure of having taken the right road.... myself least of all." At another instance, Einstein said that "We are standing in front of a closed box which cannot open, and we try to discuss what is inside and what is not." The idea of VSL proposed by this author is not new, but he is one of those who made the theory a little more mainstream in physics. The first half of the book (chapter 2 - 6) discusses the current cosmological problems and inflation theory in layman terms, and in the second half, the author discusses his personal struggles in the pursuit of his controversial theory. He unleashes his mind and heart on any thing that matters; scientific bureaucracy, peer reviewing process, research-grant award mechanism, science administrators, and fellow scientists. The academic rat race is vividly explained along with his leftist and liberal leanings on political and social issues. He expresses cynicism against American and Russian scientists; a reflection of British educational system which refuses to forget 1776 and uncomfortable to admit scientific and technical superiority of another country.
The horizon effect of earth is due to its curvature, but the horizon of the universe is due to two factors; a definite age of the universe (13.7 billion years) and speed of light is constant. A consequence of this is when the universe was one second old, when it is known to have started expanding; the radius of the horizon was 300,000 kilometers. This suggests that the universe at its infancy had regions that did not have direct contact with each other, and thus can not explain the observed homogeneity of the universe (horizon problem). The second puzzle in cosmology is the flatness problem; the fate of the universe due to the dynamics of expansion, which results in three possible shapes; spherical, hyper-spherical (saddle shaped), and flat surface. When forces of expansion and gravity of the universe are matched, then the universe will neither collapse in a crunch nor does it expand endlessly leaving the universe in dark vacuum. This balanced state of the universe is highly unstable because the two opposing forces are nearly matched, when the natural tendency is that either the force of expansion or gravity takes control of the universe to increase entropy (Second law of Thermodynamics). This seemingly peculiar state of the universe is not clearly explained by the current cosmological models which call for a reexamination and perhaps reconsideration of existing theories.
VSL Model; at critical density of the universe, the density of matter that produces gravitational energy is equal to the density of matter producing expansion. In a closed universe (spherical shape), the mass density is above critical density, therefore gravitation supersedes; simultaneously the energy is lost due to a decrease in the speed of light under VSL model (correspondingly mass also decreases since E = MC(2)). Similarly for an open universe, energy is created (correspondingly mass also increases) from vacuum in the wake of expansion from an increase in the speed of light. Thus the universe gravitates to a flat universe in both closed and open situations but violating law of energy conservation (First law of Thermodynamics), because the total energy of the universe did not remain constant. VSL also explains the horizon problem. In VSL model; regions of the universe, which are denser will loss energy, whereas energy will be created in a sparse regions of the universe thereby maintaining homogeneity.
One of the properties of the cosmological constant is that vacuum energy is not diluted by expansion in contrast to matter and radiation. It is gravitationally repulsive and the energy density remains constant upon dilution: Expansion dilutes the lambda energy, but tension created by expansion makes up for the energy dilution thus balancing the power of expansion and gravity and thus keeping the universe flat. Hence vacuum energy theoretically must dominate the universe during expansion, but VSL model suppresses that by converting vacuum energy into matter. Other predictions of VSL include that near black holes the speed of light is zero at the horizon, and it also predicts in an eternal universe with no beginning and no end. Since the cosmic expansion is accelerating and cosmological constant lambda is responsible for slowing the speed of light since a sharp decrease in speed of light converts vacuum energy into ordinary matter and this result in conditions for new Big Bang. The cycle of new creation begins all over again.
The negative side of VSL is the violation of energy conservation, but it provides for converting vacuum energy into the matter. This model also favors infinite speed of light during Planck epoch in order to explain the horizon problem. It is proposed that the primordial speed of light would be 32 zeros added to the current value (an extreme scenario for the varying speed of light!). There are several versions of VSL including two alternatives from the authors work. Ultimately experimental evidence should favor one VSL model over all others. Although the author mainstreamed this theory in physics but his shabby literature search ignored the work of John Moffat who must get the credit for the discovery of VSL theory.
The Drama of a Scientific Theory.......2007-04-12
João Magueijo, in Faster than the Speed of Light: The Story of a Scientific Speculation, autobiographically describes for a non-technical audience, the history of his hypothesis that the speed of light was faster than it is now when the universe was very VERY young. According to the author, allowing the speed of light (the otherwise constant c of E=mc^2) to vary has better explanatory power than going cosmological theories, especially "inflation". This yarn is based in physics and (especially) Relativity, and these topics are well reviewed for a general audience (i.e., without math). I always like expanding my brain in new directions. But, Magueijo's story is really about the sociology of science, the scientific method and scientific institutions.
The crucial distinction between a scientist and a non-scientists is that science is rooted in empiricism -- observation. The scientist is constantly asking, "How do I know that? Is there a better way to explain this?" Perhaps because scientists are so Spockishly constrained by logic and mundane experience, the general public views them as dull, as know-it-all eggheads that keep changing their minds about what is good for us and what is bad. However, as Magueijo makes clear, science is a cutthroat endeavor driven by ego and human insecurities.
Not being a physicist, I cannot speak to the validity of Magueijo's hypothesis of a variable speed of light. However, as a biologist, I can attest to the accuracy of his portrayal of the life of a scientist. While not my field, I could certainly relate, and found this story entertaining.
Whose theory is this anyway.......2007-01-20
Hey, I thought I had thought of this theory before him. I think one of my blogs has this original idea. Guess what the idea or theory that the speed of light in the begging of time was faster or slower is true. Since space-time started at the moment of the big bang, you would think the speed would of been faster just because the universe at the beginning is not the same as the one after the big bang. Given our short existence on this planet, i doubt if we will ever see any other speed of light than the present one. We can see back in time up to 300,000 years after the big bang. After you think about it longer this is not a good theory. If the speed of light is faster in the past would it be traveling faster than the current light and in a sense passing it? Then would we be seeing the future as the past. And that is not true. If the speed of light was slower at the moment of the big bang, then we could never see the light near the begging of the universe. With is not true. Every day we get closer to seeing the beginning of time for our universe. If the speed of light had not been consistant since the begging, we could not look back in time. Of course it is known that at the very begging the laws of nature where very different, for just a split second. But George Smoot got a Noble prize for proving that theory.
a combination of science and the inside scoop on life in academia.......2006-09-06
Faster Than the Speed of Light is a book about the author's speculation that early in the universe the speed of light was faster than it is now. The author starts with the obligatory overview of relativity and cosmology. I found his explanation very easy to follow. He then goes on to introduce his theories which I found harder to follow but still interesting. He also represents the trials and tribulations of those trying to get their theories published in scientific journals in a way that brings out the worst of academia. I hope it is not really like that! In any case this book is very interesting and worth reading. Even if his speculation comes to nothing, you will get a very good introduction to relativity and cosmology.
Was Einstein both right AND wrong?.......2006-08-31
It is not wrong to think the unthinkable, to talk about such matters and shine the light of conclusions upon why a particular idea is seen as `unthinkable'. João Magueijo does that, but the resulting book is both good and bad. The ideas are explained very well, but the way for explaining them less praiseworthy.
The most famous equation of all time, Einstein's "E=m c(squared)", proved to be extremely useful in explaining some fundamental questions in physics. Much of the legacy of Einstein flowed from a constant speed of light, at 186,000 miles per second. However, just because an idea is useful does not necessarily mean that it is universally true for all time in all circumstances. Magueijo explanation of the fundamentals of relativity is very clear, as his the formulation of the Big Bang riddles. The Big Bang theory is very powerful as an explanation, but is faced by severe problems, within cosmology circles.
The more difficult aspects of the book come when linking the story together. Magueijo conjectures that if the idea of a constant speed of light not universally, then it is possible to explain the Big Bang riddles. However, the raw science has some interesting use of English, and some vocabulary more suited to the playground than a serious (if `popular') scientific book. This is a shame, as it detracts from the thrust of the book, both an explanation of and a history of how the Variable Speed of Light (VSL) theories were derived. There is also the sceptre of missing years, when travelling to and from an object 4 light years away (at the imaginary speed of light). The numbers did not add up to me.
The book has value in being narrated by Magueijo, whose contribution to the work on VSL is immense. This is also a drawback. Magueijo uses the text to air some pet topics; not just on how science progresses (valid) and what is `good science' (similarly valid) but also on the vast volume of paperwork and administrative process necessary in order to conduct science and the submission of scientific papers (less valid). There is an element of sniping at the authorities
Where the history scores well is stating some of the stuffiness of academia, particularly Cambridge. To describe this without sniping seems to carry more weight. The narrative blows away a few myths, not least the Einsteinian idea that the speed of light is constant now, and has always been so since the birth of the Universe (however that happened). In that respect Einstein could have been wrong. Where Einstein may have been right is his use of `the Cosmological Constant' (which Einstein later discounted as his largest error). VSL, or at least some variations of it, do not have a difficulty in this becoming a demon that leads to an unstable Universe.
Well worth reading, but a book that has more value for the content than for the style, which detracts from its serious nature.
Peter Morgan, Bath, UK (morganp@supanet.com)
Customer Reviews:
Maybe Nick Herbert should be a lesion to Joao Magueijo?.......2007-06-10
Faster Than the Speed of Light: The Story of a Scientific SpeculationNick Herbert hadn't heard of Joao Magueijo when he wrote his book and did his research.
But Magueijo didn't have that excuse for not mentioning Nick Herbert?
I give the toss to Nick Herbert as being more open to innovative ideas.
In both cases they could have been more forgiving of our ignorance and given equations...
But it is our way off the Earth to the heavens that is involved here, and Nick Herbert
put material that had to be of use in this research in his book.
The other fellow just didn't. Compare and contrast the two for yourself.
Is time travel possible? This book is food for thought.......2007-02-19
Is time travel possible?
Buried at the heart of this question is perhaps another, more interesting question being: Do we even have the physiological ability to accurately perceive how time passes?
Like the first question, this book provides some interesting food for thought on the second question as well. As has been pointed out by other reviewers, this book from 1988 certainly should not be read alone and to the nominated other suggested works of Brian Greene's Elegant Universe and Fabric of the Cosmos I would also add Lee Smolin's The Trouble with Physics (which questions the efficacy of string theory itself) and also David Darling's Teleportation the impossible leap which is a more recent treatment of the developments relating to using quantum entanglement as potential means for interstellar/instantanious communications.
But back to basics: Do we accurately perceive time?
It's been an incident of scientific progress that great errors occur when natural human insights are imported into scientific theory without the benefit of testing. Two cases in point are the Ptolemaic model of the universe wherein the simple observer assumption that the earth is at the center of the universe and that everything revolves around it is taken as scientific fact and also the Aristetalian dichotemy between body and soul, itself another simple observer assumption that the soul exists independently of the body.
Conversely it's also been an incident of scientific progress that when one is willing to come forward and seriously challenge convention, there is a potential for great scientific advance. Again, citing the Ptolemaic model, the Copernican revolution was seriously revolutionary because it challenged the observer assumption that we alone in the universe were motionless while the rest of creation alone moved. And again, citing the Aristetelian model, the soul/body dichotemy has come under attack based on recent developments in evolutionary psychology which have shown the close correspondence between changes in brain physiology and alterations in human behavior. (If there is a soul then why does the loss some brain cells so radically effect human behavior. See Phantoms in the Brain by V.S. Ramashandran.)
It is in these regards that the question of the human perception of time has had a particular salience and power. And until 1957, no less than Richard Feynman was betting that our perceptions of time were way off. To understand why Feynman made and lost his bet we need to review some basic physics.
There are four fundamental physical forces which govern the universe. Acting at macroscopic scales we have gravitation and electromagnetism. Significantly by 1957 testing had shown that each force was time symetrical. In other words, the processes by which it operated worked the same in forward and reverse. At the microscopic level, the strong nuclear force was also found to be time symetrical.
So when Tsung Dao Lee and Chen Ning Yang decided to test the weak nuclear force, Feynman bet that they would also find this force to be time symetrical according to Steven Pollock, physics professor from University of Colorado at Boulder.
And he lost because the Lee/Yang experiment showed that the weak force was indeed after all not time symetrical which meant that nature indeed after all did have an arrow of time.
Now that having been said, as pointed in this book, there are good reasons to believe that our perception of the speed of the passage of time does vary from the actual physical phenomenon. Likewise, as pointed out by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. in Sirens of Titan and also Slaughterhouse Five there is also a question about why we see time so linearly.
His time traveling Tralfamadoreans saw humans as extended millepeds with baby's feet on one end and geriatric feet on the other and since we exist in all those time frames the question remains as to why we do not similarly experience reality. Like Capernicus questioning the movements of the earth or modern psychology divining the engines of consciousness the question is not a frivolous one but rather, among others provides fodder for scientific discovery.
And now back to the initial question: Is time travel possible?
In this regard, it bears noting that Herbert cleverly titled his book Faster than Light because modern physics does indeed support the movement of faster than light activity at the quantum level. However, like a modern insurance contract, the devil is in the details. This is because mere faster than light travel at the quantum level does not guarantee a basis for human exploitation for time travel purposes.
So at the end of the day, Herbert's book ends up saying what Stephen Hawking says in A brief history of time and what Kip Thorne says in Black Holes and Time Warps...you can't get there from here.
However, like those books this one keys into that very human, very scientific inquiry and asks why not?
A very confusing book.......2004-02-22
The author has clearly misunderstood many basic facts about the theory of special relativity. In fact, it seems that he has combined nearly all popular misunderstandings associated with the speed of light.
One of the most general consequences of Einstein's special relativity from 1905 is that no physical signal (or a piece of matter) can ever move faster than light. The speed of light plays a very important role according to this famous theory. Although a lot of new insights have been accumulated since 1905, the previous sentence remained valid. Einstein discovered general relativity in 1916, and this theory of gravity allows spacetime to become warped - in fact, this theory was found exactly because Einstein knew that Newton's theory of gravity allowed the signals to be sent superluminally, and therefore it contradicted special relativity. Newton's theory could not be quite correct.
Moreover, many physicists have studied various solutions of general relativity that admit the closed time-like curves, i.e. time travels. Although most scientists believe that these solutions are unphysical because of various reasons (such as instability), it is legitimate to study such solutions, and many popular books have been written about these solutions.
Herbert's approach is more primitive. In most of his book, he wants to derive the existence of faster-than-light motion (and time travels, which are then an inevitable consequence) from special relativity itself. One of the main points of special relativity is that exactly this is impossible. There exists a concept of tachyons (from Greek "tachos" which means "speed"), fictitious particles that always move faster than light. Quantum field theory shows that the existence of such particles would also make the Universe unstable because such tachyons could be created in pairs (their energy can be both negative as well as positive). Many of my fellow string theorists revisited the question of tachyons (initially, we would simply eliminate every version of string theory that predicts a tachyon), but all of them agree that the existence of tachyons in the real world would spell doom for the whole Universe. The real goal of the recent calculations involving tachyons in string theory is really to find out the final state of the collapsing Universe (or a membrane floating in the Universe).
Herbert is also confused by the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen effect in quantum mechanics. He thinks that the entanglement - the correlations between distant objects in the Universe - can be used to send information. No, that's not possible. In his example involving calcium vapors, he does not appreciate that the information comes from the vapor source, not the crystal, and therefore the crystal can't send any usable information. The EPR effect allows correlations between distant objects, but because the outcome of the experiments are random (quantum mechanics only predicts probabilities), there is no way for us to affect the outcome of a faraway experiment i.e. no way to send an e-mail faster than light, for example.
I could continue: he incorrectly interprets the large phase speed of some vibrations in the upper atmosphere, violation of the CP (and T) symmetries by the kaons, and so on. If you want to get the wrong answer to all conceivable questions related to the speed of light, buy this book. If you prefer to learn how the Nature really works, I recommend you a different book. For example "The Fabric of the Cosmos" by Brian Greene explains nearly everything about space and time, including a very entertaining (yet correct) treatment of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen effect.
A must-read, with one flaw.......1999-09-17
The author gets high marks for realizing that an acceleration of 1g for 1 year will yield light speed and for analyzing every possible means to break the light speed barrier for both space travel and communications. The book gets four stars instead of five, though, due to a faulty analysis on the communications front. The author makes the intuitive leap that since the Einstein - Podolsky - Rosen experiment reveals the production of two like-polarized photons from the exitation of one calcium vapor atom which can then be detected by calcite crystals at different locations, faster than light communication is possible between the two calcite crystal locations by modulating the crystals themselves. In doing so, he fails to grasp that the signal emanates from the calcium vapor source, not the crystal, and that usuable information can only be fed into the system or changed at the source. The remainder of the book is excellent.
The reader should also be aware that this book was originally written in 1988, and this paperback edition has not been updated to include the ramifications of string theory or M-theory. This book should therefore be followed with "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene.
Fabulous Debunking!.......1999-06-29
This is on of the best popularizations I've ever read. Almost every conceivable way to exceed light speed has been debunked here. The author does however leave open tantalizing options that still have some credibility. Read it in three sittings...
Book Description
The Zimmermans range broadly across the enormous spectrum that is nature: from how the universe began to its probable fate, from microscopic viruses to dinosaurs, from the effects of radiation to the depletion of the ozone layer. This collection of essays is instructive, entertaining, and just plain fun.
Customer Reviews:
Simple and Easy.......2007-08-07
This book is quite an entertaining scientific book and is easy to read. Although a couple of the answers may be outdated now, such as traveling faster than light, the book still has a lot of great useful and totally un-useful scientific concepts and information that are spoon fed.
Simple and interesting.......2001-07-16
This book addresses many intriguing scientific questions. The Zimmerman brothers address the various topics in a way that non-scientific minded people can easily understand the explanations.
My favorite essays included: Earth Without a Moon, Why is the sky blue, What is the most venomous animal, How did it all begin, Are we alone, What happens to us when we die, Can people be put in cold storage, and of course the essay from which the books gets its name: Can anything travel faster than light? This book is highly recommended for those curious minds out there that might not have quite the scientific background.
Why Nothing is Easier Than This Book.......2000-04-08
No matter your level of expertise in any of the many subjects covered in this book, the way the essays are written makes anything from blackholes to evolution easy to understand.
Why nothing can travel faster than light.......2000-02-06
This is a simply and understandably explained book for people who want to have a pleasure for scientific reading. Giving proper examples is also one of great things about this book. It is a must reading you can ever find on the shelf.
Interesting reading!.......1999-12-16
Believe it or not, Barry Zimmerman is my physics teacher. That's how I found out about the book. They approach interesting questions and give all kinds of information about topics we all ponder (plus a little humor). Get this book, it's awesome.
Average customer rating:
- A real gem of a book
- A well written book!
- Special Relativity and Motions Faster than Light
- New Book on Special Relativity
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Special Relativity and Motion Faster Than Light
Moses Fayngold , and
Roland Wengenmayr
Manufacturer: Wiley-VCH
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ASIN: 3527403442 |
Book Description
While the theory of special relativity is often associated with the idea of traveling faster than light, this book shows that in all these cases subtle forces of nature conspire to prevent these motions being harnessed to send signals faster than the speed of light.
The author tackles these topics both conceptually, with minimal or no mathematics, and quantitatively, making use of numerous illustrations to clarify the discussion. The result is a joy to read for both scientists familiar with the subject and laypeople wishing to understand something of special relativity.
Customer Reviews:
A real gem of a book.......2007-08-15
This book starts out with the usual basics of special relativity such as Lorentz transformations. It goes on to deal in some depth with such fascinating phenomena as the possibility of faster than light (superluminal) motion and the existence of especially strange particles called tachyons. Moses Fayngold accomplishes quite a feat by successfully combining the style of a popular science book with the real content of a textbook. I am an avid reader of science books (of all kinds) and I have rarely come across such a wonderful example of scientific writing. Dr. Fayngold displays a thorough understanding of educational techniques. While popular science books can be inspiring, they never leave me feeling like I have gained any actual knowledge. Textbooks, on the other hand, while full of details, lack the ability to instill a wonder at the universe that a well written popular science book can achieve. This book gives explanations of the phenomena as well as any textbook but the details are immersed in a big picture analysis that makes it worthwhile to work through the formulas and details. Reading it gave me the kind of thrill at the complexity and beauty of our universe which I only get out of popular science books. At the same time, I felt that I learned the subject at an equal depth as I would in a college course. I loved the light (unintimidating) narration tone and the little instructive tales used to illustrate the concepts. I would highly recommend this book both for personal education reading and as a textbook companion for a physics course.
A well written book!.......2006-11-28
This is a very well written book as well as very interesting and accurate.
Special Relativity and Motions Faster than Light.......2003-10-01
Everybody knows that motion of objects with the speed faster than light is impossible.
Dr. Moses Fayngold wrote a 309-page book about superluminal motions. Not a science fiction work, not a fantasy, but a book on special relativity written by a theoretical physicist, an expert in this field. It is as serious and accurate as a scientific journal publication, and as absorbing and entertaining as a good scientific popularization. Among hundreds books on relativity this one is special. It covers a variety of topics, including the most recent ones that could not always be found in the classical publications. I read it with increasing interest, gave it to my colleagues, and would recommend it to both professionals and students.
Many will be surprised to find in the book something they had not even thought about. I am sure that the book will have more editions.
Prof. Edward Parilis
California Institute of Technology
New Book on Special Relativity.......2003-09-24
This book is a rare example of the treatment that is profoundly instructive and enjoyable to read. In it the features of a reading book for educated laymen blend successfully with rigorousness and depth of a monograph for professional scientists. Intriguing and thought provoking, it can be used by students to learn basic principles of the theory of relativity, and by physics teachers to illustrate these principles and analyze their implications before any student audience.
In many discussions of the theory of relativity there is only a brief mentioning about motions faster than light. This produced a spectrum of speculations, including a widespread and totally misleading opinion among many that such motions are impossible in principle.
Moses Fayngold gives a brilliant discussion of superluminal motions and shows how they relate to the theory. Some of the problems discussed by him are unique and cannot be found in any other book.
I would recommend "Relativity and Motions Faster than Light" to anyone who wants to get a deep understanding of one of the cornerstones of Modern Physics.
Average customer rating:
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Faster Than Light
Jack Dann , and
George Zebrowski
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0441228259 |
Average customer rating:
- Read the inspiration for this book instead
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Faster Than Light
John Lucas
Manufacturer: Dedalus,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1903517117 |
Customer Reviews:
Read the inspiration for this book instead.......2004-02-03
Nearly every aspect of this book reminded me of a much better book - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and its sequels, all of which I enjoyed much more than Faster than Light. Not that this book isn't amusing and clever, but compared to Hitchhiker's, "its good parts aren't original, and its original parts aren't good." I recommend this book for SF fans who have not read Hitchhiker's, and I urge all those who read Faster than Light first to read Hitchhiker's next.
Average customer rating:
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FASTER THAN LIGHT (Space Hawks, No 1)
Edward Packard
Manufacturer: Starfire
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
General
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ASIN: 0553288385
Release Date: 1991-07-01 |
Average customer rating:
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Faster than light: An original anthology about interstellar travel
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: 0060109521 |
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