Summary: new method of ftl travel proposed that does not require exotic negative energy source. However requires orders of magnitude more energy than provided by a nuclear power plant, methods to reduce this have been proposed.
The ftl part does need negative energy. Subluminal warp bubbles do not need negative matter.
Right; this really doesn't seem to getting anyone any closer to a 'warp drive' in the sense of ftl.
But it is a warp drive in that it propels itself by warping space.
edit: aside from being completely theoretical at this point
...30 orders of magnitude more than a nuclear power plant.
We just a need a moore's law of nuclear power and we'll be able to have lunch at alpha centauri and be back in home in time for dinner!
At those energy densities, you'd need a Moore's law of matter too.
But look on the bright side, with scrith we could build a Ringworld as well.
Why, when you could just have your dinner sent through the Great Burritos Wormhole?
But then I'd have to learn how monads work, and I've been putting that off for good reason.