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Originally Posted by crich70
But wasn't the idea of a nuclear bomb also at one time science fiction? I seem to remember an editor (I think it was John W. Campbell) who advised an author on some story details and found himself being investigated by the F.B.I. because he had the details of the possible process for a nuclear detonation too perfect. And they suspected him of spying or something as a result though it turned out all the information was already out in books on the subject.  Sometimes art imitates life I guess. |
The fundamental physics theories we currently use have been tested rigorously for a long time now, at least on a local scale. If there were big holes in our knowledge, they would show up as we looked at the world in increasing detail. We just don't see that. The better our equipment, the better the agreement with theory. And, believe it or not, scientists are trying very hard to find things that don't fit into current theories. It would bring them great respect and accolades from the scientific community if they did. New stuff is always more interesting and fun to work on, and easier to get research grants for.
Things are different on a cosmological scale, where the behaviour of galaxies doesn't seem to fit our theories of gravitation. However, it's hard to imagine how discoveries in that field are going to help us travel around the universe and communicate instantly with each other. Even gravity waves travel at the speed of light.