The EmDrive, fly-by anomalies and the nature of inertia

[Glaurung]

This article looks very interesting. I don't understand enough of the physics involved to say how likely it is, but there's promising empirical evidence that the EmDrive actually works, and the hypothesis would explain the hitherto mysterious jumps in the acceleration of satellites known as fly-by anomalies.

[comrade_general]

Neat, and one could use it to make some popcorn on the way to Uranus or wherever.

But why do they have you say it's controversial? That makes it sound like a pc thing or some crap. Everything today seems to be controversial. That's all the media talks about. I hate the word controversial. Maybe say that his peers were unconvinced.

[Glaurung]

"Controversial" seems to be scientific-journalist-speak for a new theory or hypothesis which is not widely accepted and/or which does not have much experimental evidence to support it.

Encouragingly, the evidence for the EmDrive seems to be rather stronger than for the various attempts at cold fusion: six separate groups have each built their own apparatus and got the same result. Even if the theory is not right, it's looking as if there is a propellant-free propulsion technique ("space drive", if you like) that we can make use of. If we get to understand inertia as well, that opens up a whole load more possibilities.

[comrade_general]

Hooray!

[Pentagathus]

Hmmm interesting, I didn't get some of the physics jargon but from what I understand these people have managed to invent magic?

[comrade_general]

It seems pretty straightforward to me?

[Pentagathus]

Yes, magic. Simples.

[Glaurung]

Hmmm, Clarke's Third Law: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
What counts as "sufficiently advanced" may vary by individual.

It's magic in the sense that there are observed phenomena that contradict our current understanding of some fairly fundamental bits of physics. We've been here before (e.g. the photoelectric effect, the Michelson-Morley experiment) and the outcome is new, better theories of physics (e.g. quantum mechanics, relativity). The EmDrive could produce equally dramatic advances.

[Pentagathus]

The cones in these experiments are breaking the laws of physics and must be brought before the court of everything. If we let these objects get away with it where does it end? We'll all be up to our eyebrows in miscellaneous stuff just floating about defying gravity before too long.

[Jubal]