Mars Posted August 17, 2007 #1 Share Posted August 17, 2007 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtm...scispeed116.xml '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. advertisement 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." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt_Ripley Posted August 17, 2007 #2 Share Posted August 17, 2007 if this is true this is very exciting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swtp Posted August 17, 2007 #3 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I think it,s exciting too, but also quite scary! Are we really ready to explore what all this knowledge is capable of?Just what are all the possibilities with this technology?How would we use it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stalker Posted August 17, 2007 #4 Share Posted August 17, 2007 .......oh, wow. This is mind-blowing.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Startraveler Posted August 17, 2007 #5 Share Posted August 17, 2007 See this thread. These authors might be a little overenthusiastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxymoron Posted August 17, 2007 #6 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I am afraid of going so fast, we have barely digested Nuclear techonlogy which can some day destroy us all, I am afraid if technology is so much ahead of social change we will do something very stupid. I think its time to put the breaks, and concentrate on biology and cure cancer and AIDS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cradle of Fish Posted August 17, 2007 #7 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I am afraid of going so fast, we have barely digested Nuclear techonlogy which can some day destroy us all, I am afraid if technology is so much ahead of social change we will do something very stupid. I think its time to put the breaks, and concentrate on biology and cure cancer and AIDS. You act like curing cancer and AIDS is easy. Theres alot of people on it, theres just not as much funding as their should be. And while theoretical physics seem to have no application in the real world, its important for the continued survival of our species when we wear this planet out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questionmark Posted August 17, 2007 #8 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Ok guys, before we all go out and organize a parade for these blokes let's see what the peer-revue brings. Remember that cold fusion in Utah and that cloning in Korea? This might be the next chapter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxymoron Posted August 17, 2007 #9 Share Posted August 17, 2007 You act like curing cancer and AIDS is easy. Theres alot of people on it, theres just not as much funding as their should be. And while theoretical physics seem to have no application in the real world, its important for the continued survival of our species when we wear this planet out. We are just not ready for such advances they will only hurt us not help us. Cancer and AIDS are not geeting enough funding or they would have been cured by now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical-licker Posted August 17, 2007 #10 Share Posted August 17, 2007 You act like curing cancer and AIDS is easy. Theres alot of people on it, theres just not as much funding as their should be. yeah the money is going on tattoo removal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekorig Posted August 17, 2007 #11 Share Posted August 17, 2007 The wonders of science, ever changing, ever opening new horizons. If true, it will revolutionate our concept ofthe universe, and open the oportunity for new technologies (anyone say FTL engines?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pax Unum Posted August 17, 2007 #12 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Ok guys, before we all go out and organize a parade for these blokes let's see what the peer-revue brings. I agree, let's see if these claims hold up under scrutiny... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxymoron Posted August 17, 2007 #13 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I hope its bull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questionmark Posted August 17, 2007 #14 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I hope its bull. Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxymoron Posted August 17, 2007 #15 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Why? Its bad enough that Man can destroy our world with a NUclear war or other ways, but if we go faster then speed of light we can actually damage or destroy the space time continium and destroy Existance of everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questionmark Posted August 17, 2007 #16 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Its bad enough that Man can destroy our world with a NUclear war or other ways, but if we go faster then speed of light we can actually damage or destroy the space time continium and destroy Existance of everything. Or we simply find out that good old Albert did not know everything and we have yet to learn. In the 18th century it was a "scientific fact" that nothing could be faster than 18 Mph (and then there was this Northumberland mechanic called Stephenson who did not know any science), later the barrier was the speed of sound (It did nothing to Yeager). Well, all wrong so far... we could also be wrong with the the continuum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxymoron Posted August 17, 2007 #17 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Or we simply find out that good old Albert did not know everything and we have yet to learn. In the 18th century it was a "scientific fact" that nothing could be faster than 18 Mph (and then there was this Northumberland mechanic called Stephenson who did not know any science), later the barrier was the speed of sound (It did nothing to Yeager). Well, all wrong so far... we could also be wrong with the the continuum. I never said we cannot reach speed faster than light but I am afraid of the repucsions and possible uses. Will it lead to time travel and real preemtive war Terminator style, I am just afraid we are moving to fast, We are well ahead of the Social growth we are just making it easrier and eastier to destroy everything, I think we should pull all our resources into utilizing the knowledge we already have lets concentrate on health, education, end poverty and hunger than we can think about taking this show on the road to other solar systems, the argument that we need another place to live because we will destroy this planet, well maybe we should fix it and not just go from planet to planet destroying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questionmark Posted August 17, 2007 #18 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I never said we cannot reach speed faster than light but I am afraid of the repucsions and possible uses. Will it lead to time travel and real preemtive war Terminator style, I am just afraid we are moving to fast, We are well ahead of the Social growth we are just making it easrier and eastier to destroy everything, I think we should pull all our resources into utilizing the knowledge we already have lets concentrate on health, education, end poverty and hunger than we can think about taking this show on the road to other solar systems, the argument that we need another place to live because we will destroy this planet, well maybe we should fix it and not just go from planet to planet destroying it. Well, away from the science I have to agree with you. If there was travel (much) faster than light we would develop into some kind of super-locust hopping from planet to planet eating everything in our way. But that just means that morals have to keep pace with science. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekorig Posted August 17, 2007 #19 Share Posted August 17, 2007 I understand your point Oxymoron. BUt take in count the egg basket scenario. If you have all your eggs in only one basket and someone throw a rock, all your eggs will be broke. If you distribuite them in a lot of baskets, the other wil survive. The humanity needs to expands to others planets of the Solar System and beyond to assure our survival. Like it or not, we need to expand, and if this discovery can be verified, it could be the base stone for the discovery of a FTL drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Startraveler Posted August 17, 2007 #20 Share Posted August 17, 2007 Or we simply find out that good old Albert did not know everything and we have yet to learn. In the 18th century it was a "scientific fact" that nothing could be faster than 18 Mph (and then there was this Northumberland mechanic called Stephenson who did not know any science), later the barrier was the speed of sound (It did nothing to Yeager). Well, all wrong so far... we could also be wrong with the the continuum. In fairness, there is a big difference between a a technological or practical impossibility and a physical law. Right now it's impossible for us to get to even a quarter of the speed of light (and it may always be). But that doesn't mean it's physically impossible for something to reach that speed. There was never any well-tested physical law that indicated nothing could go faster than the speed of sound. Anybody with a bull whip could lay that notion to rest. Light is a much different beast. I think we should pull all our resources into utilizing the knowledge we already have lets concentrate on health, education, end poverty and hunger than we can think about taking this show on the road to other solar systems, Holy sh**, this whole time I thought you were a conservative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oxymoron Posted August 17, 2007 #21 Share Posted August 17, 2007 In fairness, there is a big difference between a a technological or practical impossibility and a physical law. Right now it's impossible for us to get to even a quarter of the speed of light (and it may always be). But that doesn't mean it's physically impossible for something to reach that speed. There was never any well-tested physical law that indicated nothing could go faster than the speed of sound. Anybody with a bull whip could lay that notion to rest. Light is a much different beast. Holy sh**, this whole time I thought you were a conservative. I am, that does not mean I dont think we should solve world problems, I just dont agree with handing out money, I am for the idea of education and giving people opportunities and education noy hand outs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowball Posted August 17, 2007 #22 Share Posted August 17, 2007 ...that just means that morals have to keep pace with science... oh dear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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