Warp Drive May Arrive Sooner Than Expected

Warp drive, the sci-fi glamorized concept of an object, for example a spacecraft, traveling at speeds greater than the speed of light, may soon become more reality than uber-dork fantasy.

"Perhaps a Star Trek experience within our lifetime is not such a remote possibility," Dr. Harold "Sonny" White, the advanced propulsion theme lead for the NASA engineering directorate, recently said. According to Gizmodo, White says his  team is searching for a loophole in our current propulsion technologies while respecting the "11th commandment," which he states as: "Thou shall not exceed the speed of light."

A concept for warp drive was suggested in 1994 by Mexican physicist Miguel Alcubierre.  Unfortunately, evidence suggested such a device would require prohibitive amounts of energy.

Physicists are now suggesting adjustments can be made which would enable a warp-vessel to acheive warp with significantly less energy.

In the event that warp does become reality in our lifetimes, what do you suppose a warp "field" would look like?  Based on our current geek-formulated concepts of what warp travel could look like, which hits closest to home?

1. Star Trek - Movie Concept

2. Star Trek - 2009 Movie Concept

3. Star Wars 1977 Concept

4. Star Trek: The Next Generation "Stretchy" Effect