What kind of technology would a space alien need...

[mactonite]

OK, seriously. We all know the nearest stars are the Centauris. They are 4+ light years away. The most recent possbile habitable planet found is in the solar system of Gliese, which is approx 20 light years away. We all know how fast light travels, so I will spare posting the numbers on that(in case you are interested: SOL). However, traveling at the speed of light in space is not probable at this point for humans. It would take thousands of years to travel to Proxima Centauri, our nearest star. Theoretically, nuclear propulsion could make a human spacecraft travel faster. Possibly even 5% the speed of light according to universetoday.com.

So, my question is what kind of technology could another lifeform possess that would allow them to travel back and forth between habitbal planets?

Please disregard the fact that they would need to have evolved quicker than our species and have many more natural resources than us. Theoretical or fictional ideas are fine, as long as there is some minute potential that it may be discovered some day.

 

[The Kilted Yaksman]

Alcubierre drive + antimatter

 

[Olowkow]

The grain of sand size stuff will impact with a force (f=ma) of an aircraft carrier. This is the limit as I see it.

Dr Karl (ABC) was discussing this just the other day. Any chemical or nuclear propulsion is right out, according to him. He is betting the LHC will provide the answers.

 

[Weak Kitten]

You could do it with generation ships and a sub-light speed engine. Power is the real problem in that design though as you would need something that would keep going for hundreds or even thousands of years.

If you have the ability to upload your minds/personalities into robotic shells then the size of the ship be smaller and there is no space wasted with maintaining organic life. That would also allow you to hit greater acceleration and deceleration without worrying about the damage to organic tissue. But again, energy and maintenance are a problem. There are no convenient asteroids for mining or suns for gathering energy along the way.

The one that would make it all easy would be some way of traveling faster than light speed without any of the problems of acceleration or damage to equipment or organic structures. However we don't even have a clue how that one could be done other than with "magic" level technology.

 

[mactonite]

Alcubierre drive + antimatter

Coming out with the big guns haha. What a great theory, however it is not like to occur with any technology we have according to Gerald Cleaver:

[quote=Cleaver]...snip...

What the scientists were able to estimate was the amount of energy necessary, if the technology was available, to change these dimensions: about 10^45 joules.

"That's about the amount of energy you'd get if you converted the entire mass of Jupiter into pure energy via E = mc^2," said Cleaver, an energy far beyond anything humanity can currently envision creating.

...snip...[/quote]