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Variable, Not Constant: Speed Of Light Theory Challenging Einstein’s Physics Can Now Be Tested
Tech Times ^ | 27 November 2016, 1:16 am EST | Dianne Depra

Posted on 11/27/2016 11:30:21 AM PST by BenLurkin

Researchers suggesting that the speed of light varies have come up with a numerical prediction that will allow their theory to be tested.

Many theories in physics are built upon the idea that the speed of light is at a constant rate, but João Magueijo and Niayesh Afshordi think otherwise. In a paper published in the journal Physical Review D, they detailed the creation of an exact figure on the spectral index, a model that can be used to determine if their theory is valid or not.

All structures in the universe today were created when fluctuations occurred in the early universe. The spectral index is the record of these fluctuations that is now integrated into the cosmic microwave background.

The figure that Magueijo and Afshordi came up with is 0.96478 precise, which is extremely close to the currently used estimated readings of 0.968, give or take some margin for error, gathered from the cosmic microwave background. A Radical Physics Idea

Magueijo and Afshordi's theory that the speed of light is variable was first proposed back in the late ‘90s. It was considered as radical at the time but now that a numerical method of prediction has been developed, the theory has turned into something that physicists can validate for themselves.

"The theory ... has now reached a maturity point... If true, it would mean that the laws of nature were not always the same as they are today," said Magueijo.

(Excerpt) Read more at techtimes.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: einstein; physics; relativity; speedoflight
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1 posted on 11/27/2016 11:30:21 AM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

Save energy..reduce the speed to 55!


2 posted on 11/27/2016 11:33:30 AM PST by Don Corleone (Oil the gun, eat the cannolis, take it to the mattress.)
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To: BenLurkin

Obviously, the writers at Tech Times do not understand the difference between a theory and a hypothesis. Since only now can they test the hypothesis, it might become a theory in the future.


3 posted on 11/27/2016 11:36:07 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Hey, New Delhi! What the hell were you thinking???)
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To: BenLurkin

Voyager red shifted. End of speculation.


4 posted on 11/27/2016 11:36:23 AM PST by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: Don Corleone

At that speed, light from the sun would reach the earth in about 1.69 million hours or 193 years. Good suggestion.


5 posted on 11/27/2016 11:40:09 AM PST by Ahithophel (Communication is an art form susceptible to sudden technical failures)
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To: BenLurkin

Einstein said that “E=MC squared”.
Then he said “But this may be a local phenomenon”.

So, I think we may have a primitive understanding of how the universe works, but probably not.

We have to rethink Quantum Mechanics now that the EM drive has been proven to work (while violating Newtonian physics)

So, I guess we don’t know what we think we know, and we REALLY don’t know all the rest.


6 posted on 11/27/2016 11:40:17 AM PST by calljack (Sometimes your worst nightmare is just a start.)
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To: BenLurkin

Who do they think they are?
Don’t they know that there is a consensus?
The science is settled..../s


7 posted on 11/27/2016 11:41:51 AM PST by Lurkinanloomin (Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam , Know Peace)
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To: Don Corleone

On a galactic or larger scale the speed of light is already extremely slow.


8 posted on 11/27/2016 11:42:13 AM PST by Moonman62 (Make America Great Again!)
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To: BenLurkin
If true, it would mean that the laws of nature were not always the same as they are today," said Magueijo.

Seeing as we actually understand a lot less of nature than we pretend to know this would not be all that surprising.

9 posted on 11/27/2016 11:44:29 AM PST by Fzob (Let the saving love of Christ be the measure of our lives.)
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To: BenLurkin

If the speed of light changes, is light speed still the cosmic speed limit?


10 posted on 11/27/2016 11:48:14 AM PST by stevem
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To: BenLurkin

Bookmark


11 posted on 11/27/2016 11:51:44 AM PST by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: calljack
We have to rethink Quantum Mechanics now that the EM drive has been proven to work (while violating Newtonian physics)

This statement is false.

First, there is one peer reviewed paper which claims a result outside of the margin of error. That hardly makes it an established fact.

Second, if you actually read the explanations given by various proponents of the drive, they all employ conventional physical explanations.

12 posted on 11/27/2016 11:55:31 AM PST by FredZarguna (And what Rough Beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Fifth Avenue to be born?)
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To: calljack

“We have to rethink Quantum Mechanics now that the EM drive has been proven to work (while violating Newtonian physics)”

Your statement needs some ‘rethinking’ ...


13 posted on 11/27/2016 11:57:51 AM PST by TexasGator
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To: Ahithophel; Don Corleone
At that speed, light from the sun would reach the earth in about 1.69 million hours or 193 years.

If the sun is radiating continuously, that in and of itself is not a problem.

More problematic would be that you would be observing significant length contraction and time dilation issues on most Interstates.

14 posted on 11/27/2016 11:58:52 AM PST by FredZarguna (And what Rough Beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Fifth Avenue to be born?)
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To: TexasGator

Probably, would not surprise me even a little bit.
My position is that I do not understand it.


15 posted on 11/27/2016 12:00:11 PM PST by calljack (Sometimes your worst nightmare is just a start.)
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To: BenLurkin

God shakes his head and smiles at the “mathematics” his children worship.


16 posted on 11/27/2016 12:02:32 PM PST by EarlyBird (This space for rent)
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To: Fzob
Seeing as we actually understand a lot less of nature than we pretend to know this would not be all that surprising.

Since global warming/climate change is settled science it's one less thing we have to worry about/sarc

17 posted on 11/27/2016 12:05:25 PM PST by Ken522
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To: Moonman62
On a galactic or larger scale the speed of light is already extremely slow.

Pretty slow just in terms of planetary distances. You can't a have a real time conversation with anyone even as close as Mars.

[As a matter of fact, it's even pretty slow in some terrestrial applications. Even in the the original Cray Supercomputers, which are slow by modern standards, the system bus was run through the center of a cylindrical configuration because light takes a nanosecond to move one foot. That is quite a limitation to a machine that can do millions of calculations per nanosecond and needs to communicate with "distant" parts of the architecture.]

18 posted on 11/27/2016 12:05:55 PM PST by FredZarguna (And what Rough Beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Fifth Avenue to be born?)
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To: Ahithophel

At that speed, light from the sun would reach the earth in about 1.69 million hours or 193 years. Good suggestion.

Wow! If we could slow it down it would cool off more on the way and we could fix global warming!


19 posted on 11/27/2016 12:06:16 PM PST by CrazyIvan (Fidel and Che are together again, and it ain't on a t-shirt.)
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To: EarlyBird

“God shakes his head and smiles at the “mathematics” his children worship.”

God is the ultimate mathematician and we puny humans should strive to uncover his mysteries. NOT seek to “replace” him.


20 posted on 11/27/2016 12:06:43 PM PST by jdsteel (Give me freedom, not more government.)
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