Pioneering international warp drive think tank Applied Physics (AP) has announced the addition of Harvard Astrophysicist Dr. Avi Loeb and respected theorist Dr. Shaun Fell to lead a new endeavor aimed at furthering applications in gravity science that could have profound effects on planetary defense, advanced propulsion, and warp drive detection.
“Avi Loeb and Shaun Fell are two of the foremost minds in astrophysics and gravitational research; their expertise will help push Applied Physics’ mission forward,” said Gianni Martire, CEO of Applied Physics, in an email to The Debrief.
Since AP’s inception, the New York-based Public Benefit Corporation has published several papers involving theoretical warp concepts, including a constant velocity warp drive that requires no exotic matter. The group of over 30 full- and part-time researchers has also created the Warp Factory simulation toolkit to help the growing community of warp theorists find scientifically sound ways to travel faster than the speed of light without violating the laws of physics.
warp drive thinktank
Dr. Avi Loeb and Dr. Shaun Fell joined the prestigious international warp drive think tank Applied Physics.
Now, AP again seems to be living up to its mission of using its diverse team of experts to “break down barriers and collectively address the world’s most pressing challenges” by tasking Fell and Loeb with advancing recent advances in gravitational physics for practical commercial applications.
In a separate message, Martire told The Debrief that the project has an informal “internal” name but has not yet been named publicly. Loeb is a regular contributor to The Debrief.
Warp Drive Think Tank Advancing Gravitational Science for Commercial Applications
In the past, The Debrief has covered several noteworthy scientists exploring advanced propulsion concepts ranging from the seemingly impossible to the tantalizingly viable. Still, noted experts in warp theory, including Dr. Erik Lentz or Eagleworks Lab founder, former NASA warp drive researcher Harold G. Sonny White, and the scientist who discovered the world’s first warp bubble, all seem to agree that the practical applications of their theories is still several scientific advancements away from a Star Trek style spaceship able to conquer the speed of light. “Crawl, Walk, Run,” White previously told The Debrief.
According to Martire’s email, the newly-announced effort looks to combine Fell’s expertise in gravitational lensing with Loeb’s considerable experience in astrophysics and gravitational research to expand on another of AP’s published theories involving “detecting high velocity extraterrestrial objects” using cutting-edge tools such as the California Technical Institute’s (Cal Tech) Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) and LISA (the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna).
LIGO, warp drive thinktank
LIGO’s Livingston detector site in Louisiana. The laboratory operates two detector sites, with the other located near Hanford in eastern Washington (Credit: LIGO/Public Domain).
When asked for an example of the commercially viable application of research proposed to detect massive objects or warp drive signatures, Martire noted the limitations in current methods used to protect the planet from catastrophic cosmic collisions. These limitations could be reduced or eliminated, Martire said, by adding the benefits of gravity science to the equation.
“In the near future, this technology may be used to detect very large asteroids as we refine the techniques,” AP’s CEO explained. “We’re now able to use light and gravity together to help detect objects in our proximity, since light alone has its blind spots.”
Current technology is limited to detecting extremely large objects. Martire thinks that Loeb and Fell’s work could ultimately help advance methods to detect “the small ones” in 20 or more years, “but not in the near future.”
Given that Fell’s previous work, including co-authoring a landmark study demonstrating that warp drive concepts can theoretically function with positive energy known as the Fell-Heisenberg warp metric seemed like an odd match for detecting objects in space, AP’s enthusiastic visionary was quick to allay concerns that the new project is counter to AP’s ongoing efforts to advance a working warp drive. He even noted that the two projects share a significant scientific overlap.
“Our work on warp is critical to this technology, as it all stems from breakthroughs in general relativity,” Martire explained. “So no, we’re not building a warp drive—but the warp guy is helping us with gravitational lensing.”
Timeline Remains Secret, But Result Will Be “Rad”
In his email to The Debrief, Martire noted how exploring concepts like warp drive is only becoming more critical. He also noted that his already diverse and noteworthy team of experts, adding highly credentialed and highly experienced theorists like Fell and Loeb to helm this new project to search for a viable way to apply that research for practical applications, didn’t happen by accident.
Deep-DRAM
“This is no coincidence,” said Martire. “We are working on something historic.”
When pushed for a timeline and list of goals for the team’s newest project, Martire remained enthusiastic but cautious.
“Yes [they exist], but we can’t disclose those details at this time,” he said, his seemingly boundless passion practically coming through in print. “You’ll understand why once I’m able to show you. It’s rad!”
Applied Physics is currently hiring, and those interested may learn more about their mission at their website.
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him onX,learn about his books atplainfiction.com, or email him directly atchristopher@thedebrief.org.