Thread: We have broken speed of light!

'We have broken speed of light'

By Nic Fleming, Science Correspondent
Published: 12:01AM BST 16 Aug 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."

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

This was back in 2007, wonder what they have done since?

Good topic, well done

Can we possibly do that?
I believe so because we did broke the speed of sound decades ago.

I would like that someone answers me if gravity (as force and energy) is limited with speed of light. If it is, than speed of lite could be final limit, but I don't think it is.

:000a4:

@Midnight Blues - As far as I know, gravity is an old theory that is quite inaccurate as far as quantum physics goes. The only reason that it is still taught and used as a staple theory is pure laziness and unwillingness to change ideas on the establishment's part. Much like how we are still using the Gregorian calendar to this day even though there are much more accurate calendars around, such as the 13 moon.
@Symbian_ Newbie - I believe that anything is possible and that it is only our own ideas and beliefs that have the power to limit us or to propel us forward. Quantum physics is smashing preconceptions along the way. There is even a possible speed of time. . .

its been a bug bear with me for years regarding the laws of physics.your taught its constant and applies to everything...............except for black holes which seem to ignore this law completely....eg super black holes eject light at direct opposite poles like a spinning top...well if you cant escape from a black hole"including light" then whatr the hell am i looking at .ps....the train analogy works for me.it travels at lightspeed taking you as a passanger.you jump off at the speed of light thus doubling the total speed the same amount of energy is expended destroying the theory of the levels of energy required ...hardly rocket science ..

Einstein's theory of relativity is correct for large scale things such as planets, its the small stuff in space where quantum mechanics come into play, the real problem though is the in between bit, if what these german scientists have achieved is true, have they found a way of doing time travelling aswell ?

Anyone got there head around string theory yet?

Is it really possible?

Quote of Symbian_Newbie "Can we possibly do that?
I believe so because we did broke the speed of sound decades ago."

The speed of sound is very very slow compared to the speed of light, the two are not comparable