It has captured the imaginations of science fiction fans the world over - the possibility of traveling to distant worlds in the blink of an eye - but it has remained little more than fantasy.

We currently occupy a time where a significant technological deficit prevents us from considering such propositions, but that does not mean that interstellar travel could not one day become reality. And, it seems, that we have taken one more step toward that goal.

In order to get around the cosmic speed limit, the concept of warp drive was introduced. Such a scenario would actually cause space-time around a space craft to expand and contract, creating a cosmic wave, if you will, upon which the ship would ride.

While Einstein's equations preclude mass from traveling at speeds greater than that of light, space-time itself has no known limitations. So creating a bubble of space-time that moves faster than the speed of light that carries a space ship along with it - that, in effect is stationary in reference to the space-time bubble - is a clever end around the limitations of physics.

However, there has always been a problem with this hypothetical warp drive: Energy.

Even if we possessed the technological knowledge to effectively warp space-time around an entire ship, which we don't, the energy needed was always thought to be prohibitive. However, a new design suggests that there may be ways to dramatically reduce the energy needed.

While there is still a long way to go - these new designs would still require roughly the entire electricity output for the entire world for an entire year just to get the thing going - these strides point to a future where, with more study, the idea of warp drive may no move from being highly improbable to possible.

Image Credit: Harold White/NASA

Several weeks ago the internet watched in awe as the Mars rover Curiosity completed its journey to the surface of the red planet.

Now, as it begins the next phase of its mission, to search out evidence of here life may have formed, if at all, video is starting to emerge of its plunge through the atmosphere.

Many people have taken to constructing these videos, using NASA/JPL data to construct brilliant high-def movies. But a stumbled across one on Youtube that I particularly liked, so thought I would share. Enjoy!

The world lost a great hero on Saturday. Astronaut Neil Armstrong passed away at the age of 82.

His death came somewhat suddenly, arising from complications with a cardiovascular procedure.

Armstrong was a quiet, private man, who was content to live outside of the spotlight after his historic Moon landing. But it was he and his fellow astronauts that inspired a nation, and indeed the world, to dream that mankind was capable of making the impossible, well, possible.

Stay tuned to this space; I'll have more on Armstrong, including a piece on how it was the likes of him who inspired a nation to greatness.

The Perseid Meteor shower is peaking this weekend. So if you are out and about in the evening hours, be sure to check it out.

Of course, the best viewing is to be had under dark skies, away from bright city lights.

Friday (tonight) may be the best viewing as the Moon will be rising later tonight, but the shower actually peaks late Saturday evening/early Sunday morning.

Happy sky gazing!