‘Impossible’ engine starts working

New York: It was called the “impossible” engine, because the theory behind it appeared to be unworkable. But two sets of scientists have found that it works. The EmDrive theory was proposed by Roger Shawyer and was seen to go against classical mechanics, media reports said. EmDrive, a ‘quantum vacuum plasma thruster ‘ is light and simple.

It provides thrust by “bouncing microwaves around in a closed container.” The microwaves can generated using solar energy. No propellant is necessary, which means that EmDrive can work, unbelieveably, forever.

But in 2009 a team of Chinese scientists built an EmDrive, and it developed enough thrust to power a satellite. Now, Nasa scientists published a new paper that demonstrates a similar engine works. Their engine produced lesser power, but, importantly, it worked.