Scientists Stunned, Particles May Have Moved Faster Than Speed of Light

Jokerman

Well-Known Member
#1
Physicists around the world expressed astonishment and scepticism in equal measure Friday after European scientists reported particles apparently travelling faster than light.

Tiny specks called neutrinos were clocked at 300,006 kilometres per second -- slightly faster than the speed of light -- along a 730-kilometre (453-mile) trajectory between the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland and a laboratory in Italy.

If verified, the results would dismantle a key plank of Einstein's theory of relativity and deeply unsettle our understanding of the physical world.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/09/23/bloomberg_articlesLRYSMA6S972H.DTL

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-09-scientists-stunned-sceptical-faster-than-light-particles.html

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/neutrinos-faster-than-light/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20110594-264/physics-shocker-neutrinos-clocked-faster-than-light/

(God did it.)
 

Pittsey

Knock, Knock...
Staff member
#2
Does that mean time doesn't slow down as it approaches the speed of light? Or did they not test that?

Still... I think this is good news.
 

Jokerman

Well-Known Member
#5
Does that mean time doesn't slow down as it approaches the speed of light? Or did they not test that?

Still... I think this is good news.
Yes, they did test for it but since everything slowed down for them, we won't see the result for thousands of years. Poor bastards.

First, this needs to be verified. Second, even if it's true, doesn't mean relativity is wrong. It would mean something else is going on with almost mass-less neutrino particles that we haven't discovered yet. Could be quantum tunnelling.
 

2Pax

Well-Known Member
#6
An incredible time for Physics if it yields true. Im very sceptical though, additional dimensions may also be an explanation.
 

The.Menace

Well-Known Member
Staff member
#15
Well. As I read there are discussions about these results, seems likley they didn't include gravitation in their experiments calculation.
 

Jokerman

Well-Known Member
#18
^what are your thoughts now that a 2nd test confirmed the first one?
It was still done by the same team and attempted to rule out one possible source of error. There are still a number of other possible errors and uncertainties that need to be ruled out, and further cross-checks are needed, at other locations. Fermilab will be running one early next year, and then we'll see from there.
 

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