Alan Boyle’s Cosmic Log has more.
An unnamed source on the OPERA team told ScienceInsider that the controversy over the faster-than-light findings was exhausting. “Everyone should be convinced that the result is real, and they are not,” the source was quoted as saying.
Other researchers, including physicists with the MINOS experiment at Fermilab, are working up independent analyses of neutrino runs to assess the OPERA team’s findings. The initial outside assessments are expected to become available within six months or so, but end-to-end replications of the experiment could take significantly longer.
Yep. This finding (if it holds) will overturn a century of physics. Physics the modern world is built on. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is probably the most widely used bit of equipment that tests the speed of light and Relativity millions of times a day (At the link is a fascinating explanation of GPS and Relativity). It works. So for these results to be different than expected (faster than the speed of light) would indeed bring a revolution in our understanding of the universe. Right now? Too early to tell.
H/T The Boys and Girls at Talk Polywell
Cross Posted at Power and Control
Comments
5 responses to “Faster Than The Speed Of Light?”
I agree. This truly is the news of the decade. I find it difficult to believe or even imagine, but wow, what news!!!!!!!!!!!!
This just goes to show that we should never assume that “the science is settled.” The science is NEVER settled. I’m eagerly anticipating more news along this front.
Now THIS is interesting.
I’ve looked at this a few times, and I’m willing to tentatively accept the results.
I don’t think it actually overturns much of anything, though. I see it as more of a correction.
They’re comparing a measured time against a computed distance, and the result is faster than c.
Suppose actual distance was less than the geodesic distance. That would require an update of how we think mass bends space, but it would not break relavitiy.
Can we use this to create an anti-telephone and send a message to 2008 Obama voters?