--- title: "New Study Claims Warp Drives Are Possible" description: "A secretive startup called Applied Physics has published a \"milestone study,\" arguing that warp drives are entirely possible." date: "2024-05-11" modified: "2024-05-11" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/new-study-claims-warp-drives-possible" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "the digest" - "warp drives" --- # New Study Claims Warp Drives Are Possible ![A secretive startup called Applied Physics has published a "milestone study," arguing that warp drives are entirely possible.]() *\Image: Getty Images\* ## Wizards of Space and Time The concept of [warp drives]() — entirely hypothetical devices that could propel spacecraft by warping the fabric of space-time — has historically been relegated to science fiction. If they could ever be dragged into the real world, the promises of such a technology would be immense, allowing us to cover mind-boggling distances in a snap of a finger, visiting other star systems without taking thousands of years for the journey. Unfortunately, warp drives are extremely tricky to reconcile with our current laws of physics. But that hasn't dissuaded a [secretive startup called Applied Physics](), which has been investigating the concept for several years now. Most recently, University of Alabama physics PhD and Applied Physics senior scientist Jared Fuchs led what the company is calling a "milestone study," [published in the journal *Classical and Quantum Gravity*](), arguing that warp drives are indeed possible. "This study changes the conversation about warp drives," said Fuchs in a [press release](). "By demonstrating a first-of-its-kind model, we've shown that warp drives might not be relegated to science fiction." ## Subluminal Drive Engaged The research expands on the idea of a "warp bubble" that would allow passengers within it to not be affected by the changes in space-time and gravitational forces around them. This bubble, per the company's statement, still operates "within the bounds of known physics," enabling a "constant velocity subluminal warp drive." In other words, it could get very close to the speed of light but not exceed it, which would [upend]() our current understanding of Einstein's theory of relativity. Fuchs and his colleagues also argue that their new model solves another glaring issue: the need for "exotic matter," also known as "negative matter," which [critics have long argued]() would be needed to power such a drive. We have yet to figure out whether such a matter can even exist. "Although such a design would still require a considerable amount of energy, it demonstrates that warp effects can be achieved without exotic forms of matter," said coauthor and Applied Physics senior scientist Christopher Helmerich, who has a PhD in physics from the University of Alabama, in the statement. But as Applied Physics CEO Gianni Martire acknowledged in the company's press release, "we're not yet packing for interstellar voyages." The concept, as laid out in the latest paper, is still entirely theoretical in nature, and the authors still have a lot to prove before we can visit other star systems thousands of light-years away. **More on Applied Physics:** *[Is This Startup Working on an Actual Warp Drive?]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()