Interesting article (if factually incorrect in a few places), but alas the "Never" made it click bait. But I realize that's the game a writer has to play to get traction on an article. Some of the greatest inventions mankind has ever made were revolutionary not evolutionary. And, by definition, you just can't predict them. You never know the side effect of some other experiment, you never know some obscure branch of physics we might happen upon by chance.

Even on an evolutionary level we are likely to acquire the technology. Most astrophysicists and mathematicians concur that Alcubierre's warp drive is sound science, we just need technology to catch up, and I'm sure that's only a matter of 100 years or so at worst.

And I'm ignoring the "magical" unforseen events such as Time travelers from the future or alien visitors. "Never" is a foolish word to bandy about.