The statement that it is currently believed to be impossible to create a warp drive or achieve faster-than-light (FTL) travel is based on our current understanding of physics, particularly the theory of relativity. Here are a few reasons why scientists consider FTL travel to be extremely challenging or impossible based on the known laws of physics:
Special Theory of Relativity: According to Einstein's special theory of relativity, the speed of light in a vacuum (denoted as "c") is the ultimate speed limit in the universe. As an object with mass approaches the speed of light, its energy and relativistic mass increase, requiring infinite energy to reach or exceed the speed of light. This poses significant challenges for achieving FTL travel.
Causality and Time Travel: FTL travel could potentially violate causality, which is the principle that cause and effect should occur in a logical and consistent order. If one could travel faster than light, it might be possible to create paradoxes by going back in time and changing events that have already happened, leading to logical inconsistencies.
Energy Requirements: The energy required to propel an object to relativistic or superluminal speeds is currently believed to be astronomically large. As an object approaches the speed of light, its mass increases, and the energy required to accelerate it further becomes prohibitively large. Overcoming this energy requirement poses significant technical challenges.
Wormholes and Exotic Matter: One speculative concept for FTL travel involves using wormholes, hypothetical tunnels that connect distant points in spacetime. However, the formation and stabilization of traversable wormholes would likely require exotic forms of matter with negative energy densities or negative mass, which are not currently known to exist and may violate various energy conditions.
Lack of Evidence: Despite extensive scientific research and observation, there is currently no empirical evidence supporting the existence of FTL travel or any known physical phenomena that would allow its realization.
While scientists make conclusions based on the current understanding of physics, it is worth noting that our knowledge and understanding of the universe can evolve over time. Theoretical breakthroughs or the discovery of new physical phenomena could potentially open up new possibilities or change our understanding of FTL travel. However, based on the current state of knowledge, it is widely accepted that FTL travel is highly unlikely or impossible within the framework of known physics.