Superman Through the Ages! Forum

In a previous topic ("Why would the Silver Age Superman be careful of his space-routes?"), it was noted as you approach a light source the light is blue shifted, and becomes increasingly blue shifted as you go faster and faster.

It was also pointed out that Superman gains new powers under a blue sun.

Bit of a problem, as Superman approaches light speed and heads toward any light source, it will be increasingly blue shifted. Does this mean he gains new powers?

Could be that as he goes faster, and gains new powers he is able to go faster, eventually going FTL?

Havn't a clue what happens when he goes FTL (as far as approaching any stars is concerned). Any physicists out there who can answer?

FTL has been a problem in may areas of science fiction.

Fixed.

when supes goes FTL he (seemingly) warps space and goes into a weird rainbow tunnel-like dimesion where the the years pass by (the years are actual numbers floating by)

100% correct.

In the real world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster-than-light

what is this "real world" that you speak of???

:)

Something Animal Man mention to me once...

Ya yes, Earth Prime.

Superman should visit Earth Prime but none of his "impossible" powers should work.

If Supes is going faster than light, how is it that the light from other suns could possibly affect him?

Oh you with your logic and reason..

>It was also pointed out that Superman gains new powers under a blue sun.
I was wondering whether, if Superman's powers increase as the light gets bluer?

>FTL has been a problem in may areas of science fiction.
I think special relativity only says that you can't travel at the speed of light, not sure if it says anything else. The wilkpedia reference mentions tachyons as particles that always travel faster than light, also there are problems with quantum theory and general relativity. Given that people aren't as clever as they think are (for example, at the end of the 19th century scientists thought that physics was more or less explained, and it was a matter of dotting the i's and crossing the t's and then someone decided to cross the h), perhaps FTL is feasible?

>If Supes is going 'faster' than light, how is it that the light from other suns could >possibly affect him?
A question I never thought of.

What does it really show? That the initial question is more related to continuity, Superman has been able to go FTL previously, so he can now (rather than accept it as a convenient sci-fi device)?

Alternately, when Superman has been shown going faster than the speed of light, the earth has been known to turn backwards, and tectonic plates are put back together again. Oh, and the coolest thing is how toothpaste goes back into tubes.

I think that only happens if he flies counter-clockwise around the planet on Earth-M.