Our universe has 'constants' that guide physical phenomenon, like the speed of light. As energy and matter are interconvertible, WHY is the speed of light a key element in the process? Please enlighten me or discuss. The question can be scientific as well as metaphysical, so I'll just put it here.

The speed of light or 'c' is a key element because its how we figure out the amount of energy any object has. Its in the equation E=Mc^2, Energy is equal to mass(weight) multiplied by the speed of light squared *(the resulting number for any given mass would be in lumens) . Considering that science has yet to find a way for energy to be created or destroyed, it seems that the speed of light has everything to do with... well everything.

If the maximum speed of light was discovered to be variable, it would alter most of physics as we know it today.

So may be C^2 can be something else someday, but for now speed of light is just the only one we understand and will fit there, interesting. So we are just seeing things that we can relate to at this stage yet I guess.

UA, if mass can be converted into energy(nuke) are there any research that try to convert energy into mass? Will actual light play a role in it?

the speed of light is so important because it is the only thing, besides gravity, that can travel at the universes speed limit, some believe, including myself, that everything moves at the speed of light, the only reason we dont observe this movement is because we are sharing most of our speed in the other 3 spacial dimensions where as light and gravity only share there speed on one, time

Light would probably have a large part in converting energy to mass. I havent read about any experiments on the subject, i do know that such an experiment would take a tremendous amount of energy , and some kind of focal point to cram it all in. Maybe some kind of high intensity lazer would do the trick. I'd imagine that containing the energy needed to make mass(in the 'focal point') would be a feat as great as actually making it.

General theory of realtivity. Ill give you all a little lesson right now from my point of view. The speed of light is as relative as its association with time. General realtivity tells us that at the speed of light time does not exist as well as that the speed of light can indeed vary at a very small level due to Quantum gravity the variable is 1 to 137 or 1/137 a very small number but a fluctuation indeed. 137 is a number which transcends time and even dimension One hundred thirty-seven is the value of a number called the fine-structure constant. This constant, 137, is the way physicists describe the probability that an electron will emit or absorb a photon. Because this is the basic physical mechanism of electricity and magnetism, the fine-structure constant has its own symbol, the Greek letter a, “alpha.”

Now, alpha is nothing more, nothing less than the square of the charge of the electron divided by the speed of light times Planck’s constant. Thus this one little number contains in itself the guts of electromagnetism (the electron charge), relativity (the speed of light), and quantum mechanics (Planck’s constant). All in one number! Not only that, this number isn’t like the gravitational constant or the universal gas constant, full of meters and kilograms and degrees Celsius. Alpha is a pure, dimensionless number — little wonder that people have been fascinated.
I challenge everyone if even for an instant to just ponder what dimensionless reality would look like.

That is just great, very concise and informative, thank you :tu:ValpoSeeker. Now while I am still at it:

The speed of light is as relative as its association with time.
Are we saying that where there is no time light does not travel(no speed) and if ligth does not travel space is irrelevant so that 'everywhere in a spaceless sense' is light/darkness?

Now, alpha is nothing more, nothing less than the square of the charge of the electron divided by the speed of light times Planck’s constant.
So in the beginning there is the constant 137 which kicked start it all, that is so cool.

Alpha is a pure, dimensionless number — little wonder that people have been fascinated.
Guess I can only contemplate timeless and spaceless, but that is interesting enough. So if it is transdimensional - beyond our spacetime, wouldn't it be logical to think that the constant 137 should have some significance before the big bang? Carrying some meaning / metaphenomenon before/beyond our world? May be we won't be able to answer these soon, but I am happy that we have already found out what seems to be the critical numbers in our relatively short history.

Nice way of putting this; just to add, the photon and graviton are thought to be mass less which helps explain why they travel at the speed of light.

http://www.137.com/137/

nice reflexion, valpo