Scientists undermine theories of space and time

[avatar4321]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/mai...cispeed116.xml

The Speed of light has apparently been breached. If true, this is a monumental achievement that has untold consequences for science.

For one the theory of relativity is significantly affected.

'We have broken speed of light'
By Nic Fleming, Science Correspondent
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 16/08/2007



A pair of German physicists claim to have broken the speed of light - an achievement that would undermine our entire understanding of space and time.

According to Einstein's special theory of relativity, it would require an infinite amount of energy to propel an object at more than 186,000 miles per second.

However, Dr Gunter Nimtz and Dr Alfons Stahlhofen, of the University of Koblenz, say they may have breached a key tenet of that theory.

The pair say they have conducted an experiment in which microwave photons - energetic packets of light - travelled "instantaneously" between a pair of prisms that had been moved up to 3ft apart.

Being able to travel faster than the speed of light would lead to a wide variety of bizarre consequences.

For instance, an astronaut moving faster than it would theoretically arrive at a destination before leaving.

The scientists were investigating a phenomenon called quantum tunnelling, which allows sub-atomic particles to break apparently unbreakable laws.

Dr Nimtz told New Scientist magazine: "For the time being, this is the only violation of special relativity that I know of."

[Nukeman]

That is f***ing awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[avatar4321]

That is f***ing awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i know... they said that if we go faster than the speed of light we can arive before we leave... isnt that cool? lol

[medical 2933]

An astronaut moving faster than it would theoretically arrive at a destination before leaving.

[Monkeybone]

but with that kinda speed, what would it be like trying to stop anything that is moving that fast?

An astronaut moving faster than it would theoretically arrive at a destination before leaving.

thanks for stating what is in the original article?...i guess?

[Hagbard Celine]

but with that kinda speed, what would it be like trying to stop anything that is moving that fast?





thanks for stating what is in the original article?...i guess?

I don't think it would move through space as we think of it so trying to stop it would be futile. I think space/time would be folded so it would instantaneously depart from one location and arrive at another location without actually travelling--like teleportation.

[avatar4321]

I don't think it would move through space as we think of it so trying to stop it would be futile. I think space/time would be folded so it would instantaneously depart from one location and arrive at another location without actually travelling--like teleportation.

You mean instant transmission.

[Gaffer]

The transportation of the future. Didn't expect them to come up with this for another 20 or more years. 100 years from now people will be saying, "how did they ever get around back in those days?" Cars will be looked on as the covered wagons are now.

exploring the stars and colonizing planets is feasible in the next 50 years with this technology.

[Monkeybone]

ah, i understand what you mean Hag. so basically like a wormhole thing?

[Hagbard Celine]

You mean instant transmission.

Gesundheit.