'We have broken speed of light'

Telegraph ^ | 8/16/07 | Nick Fleming

[LibWhacker]

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."

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

For instance, an astronaut moving faster than it would theoretically arrive at a destination before leaving.

Heck, I can already do that.....jump on a plane to CGO from Detroit.... I ALWAYS get there 30 minutes or so before I left......

[Moonman62]

The only way they can do that is to also change the constants of permeability and permittivity.

[mnehring]

I wonder the photon traveled between the two prisms or if it was in both prisms at the same time (ie, located at two places at the same time- quantum physics says this is a possibility.)

[ari-freedom]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/10/991005114024.htm
“It is easier for me to question Einstein’s theory than it is to assume there is some kind of strange, exotic matter around me in my kitchen.”

[ichabod1]

No.

Einstein said it.
I believe it.
Anyone saying otherwise is a ‘denier’.

[MNJohnnie]

You break it you buy it. Gonna cost you a lot of c-notes.

PRICELESS!

[wolfinator]

Do photons have mass?

[taxcontrol]

first quantum tunneling
second sub-space communications
third warp drive
fourth teleporters

then .....

hot alien babes in skimpy clothes
http://allyourtrekarebelongto.us/drusilla.htm

[massgopguy]

On April 5, 2063 at 11:15 a.m. Zepram Cochrain made man’s first Warp Speed flight accompanied by Steppenwolf’s Magic Carpet Ride.

[Clump]

At one time surgeons scoffed at the idea that it was a good idea to wash their hands before conducting surgery. That is the problem with only believing in what can be empirically proved.

[Bean Counter]

[COBOL2Java]

"The other day I put instant coffee in my microwave oven ... I almost went back in time ..."
- Steven Wright

[Red Badger]

E=MC-notes?........squared?...........

[Dog]

Allow me..

Wow! That’s almost as fast as Jesse Jackson moving to get in front of a camera. TO A STACK OF MONEY.

Fixed.

[montomike]

That was my immediate thought.

“Warp 9, Mr. Data”

[FourtySeven]

Time to get the quantum slipstream drive online and get Voyager HOME!

[1L]

Dumb question alert: why is the speed of LIGHT specifically supposedly the ceiling on speed?

[Mr. Lucky]

It could be they were using an analog stopwatch.

[null and void]

*groan*

[ichabod1]

Of course they scoffed. After all, their hands were just going to get dirty again.