The concept of a warp drive, popularized in science fiction, involves manipulating spacetime to achieve faster-than-light travel. According to our current understanding of physics, described by general relativity (GR) and quantum mechanics (QM), achieving such faster-than-light travel is not feasible. In GR, the theory of gravity is based on the curvature of spacetime, and it does not provide a straightforward mechanism for creating a warp drive.
To construct a viable warp drive, one would need a theoretical framework that combines both GR and QM, known as a theory of quantum gravity. Such a theory remains an active area of research, and its development is essential for understanding the behavior of spacetime at the most fundamental levels, including whether phenomena like wormholes or warp drives are possible.
The reason for waiting for a quantum theory of gravity before considering the existence of wormholes or warp drives is that these concepts involve manipulating spacetime in ways that would likely require a quantum description of gravity. At the Planck scale, where quantum effects become significant, the behavior of spacetime and matter is expected to be inherently quantum mechanical. Without a theory that unifies gravity and quantum mechanics, we cannot make definitive statements about the feasibility or existence of wormholes or warp drives.
It's worth noting that current scientific understanding suggests that faster-than-light travel, as envisioned in many science fiction stories, is highly unlikely. However, as our understanding of the universe evolves through advancements in theoretical physics, there is always the possibility of discovering new insights or uncovering phenomena that challenge our current limitations.