The Greatest Mechanical invention

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

0.5 C , 7 light years … 14 years at home ———–> 12 years for traveler.

[Anthony KnightsParticipant @anthonyknights16741]

Hi Ady1

Guess you have read Larry Niven among other SF writers.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

There was a Stephen Appleby cartoon about "planetary repairmen". They turn up to apolluted Earth and announce everything is too far gone and they'll have to reboot the system. "Great, we'll get a second chance. No more pollution, clean air, clean water…" The reptile leader replies "Who says you'll evolve again?".

Neil

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

As this is getting fanciful, anyone remember the Queen lyrics "write your letters in the sand for the day I take your hand in the land that our grandchildren knew"?

They may be a pomp-rock band, but they know a thing or two about relativity!

Neil

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Posted by Graham Meek on 26/10/2012 19:39:16:

OK which Sci-Fi used Tractor Beams?

Gray.

Hi Gray,

Most of them but the real famous one was Star Wars when Alec Guiness got all serious,  But I think Star Trek got there first.

Regards

T

Edited By Terryd on 26/10/2012 22:24:34

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Posted by Graham Meek on 26/10/2012 19:39:16:

OK which Sci-Fi used Tractor Beams?

Gray.

Probably E E Doc Smith..[Triplanetary and Lensman series]

It is useful to thinkof three classes of "impossible"

Class I Impossibilities are "technologies that are impossible today, but that do not violate the known laws of physics." — just need engineering input

Teleportation is a class I impossibility, in that it does not violate the laws of physics,

Class II Impossibilities are “technologies that sit at the very edge of our understanding of the physical world," Such a technology is time travel. Einstein’s equations do show that time travel is possible.

Class III Impossibilities are “technologies that violate the known laws of physics." …faster than light travel ( IN A FAIR FIGHT)

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Posted by Jeff Dayman on 24/10/2012 21:44:47:

……………………….

Re Star Trek – I never got why, if they could beam down to a planet, why not just beam to the next galaxy they were going to, and save the hassle and elapsed time of warp drive?

…………….

JD

Hi Jeff,

I reckon it was because they couldn't get the USS Enterprise under one of those humming light beams on the Transporter stage . That would have required the use of a de-bigulator.

Hi Jason,

I must get out my E E Doc Smith collections again, I used to love those,

Regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 27/10/2012 08:09:25

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Of course all these Tele transporters have now bee superceded by Wormholes ! Stargates are the thing now where as long as there is another stargate you can travel to that planet ( Tounge in cheek)

Einsteins theory that space is curved means you can step across from one part to another by some means. fanciful thinking. But , then again the theory about parallel universes has merit.

So I nominate the umbrella as a worthwhile mechanical invention as my wife will not go anywhere without one so it must be important, surely.

Clive

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

> E.E. 'Doc' Smith

I grew up  on a diet of that and the yellow-jacketed Gollancz books from the library.

"Lambent beams of violet flame licking over the hull of the black teardrops of space"

Best of all his self-parody as 'Sibley White'(?) – Quadgop the Mercotan with his xithil-like claws!

I even built a 'projector' out of blue card and silver foil.

I always wanted to be Nils Bergenholm – Worzel for Ever!

Neil

 

Edited By Stub Mandrel on 27/10/2012 19:19:47

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