Scientists in Switzerland say an experiment appears to show that tiny particles traveled faster than the speed of light — a result that would seem to defy the laws of nature.
The physicists say that neutrinos sent 730 kilometers (453.6 miles) underground between laboratories in Switzerland and Italy arrived a fraction of a second sooner than they should have, according to the speed of light.
The report was published Friday by a group of researchers working on the so-called Opera experiment, based at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland.
“This result comes as a complete surprise,” report author Antonio Ereditato at the University of Bern, in Switzerland, said in a statement.
“After many months of studies and cross checks, we have not found any instrumental effect that could explain the result of the measurement.”
The scientists on the Opera project would continue their research, he said, but “are also looking forward to independent measurements to fully assess the nature of this observation.”
The finding would seem to challenge Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity, and the long-established law of physics that nothing can exceed the speed of light.
“It is very, very remarkable if it’s true,” said Professor Neville Harnew, head of particle physics at Oxford University.
“If this proves to be correct, then it will revolutionize physics as we know it.”
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3 Responses
I doubt he’ll object.
If this is true (and I have my doubts), it would really mean that faster-than-light human travel just may be possible.
like the saying goes, light travels faster than sound. that’s why people appear bright until you hear them talk.