Faster than the Speed of Light?

Some weeks ago there was a stir in the news about the possible discovery of neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. There was not much acceptance in physics circles, as such a finding would overturn Einstein's conclusions that nothing in the universe can travel faster than the speed of light. Indeed, I think the findings have already been corrected, though the experiment will soon be rerun.

I mention it in passing only because I recall during my more intellectually ambitious and delusional youth playing with this idea of a cosmic speed limit. I had wondered if there might have been a fatal conceptual flaw unrealized until I saw it, that is, the reason why the cosmic speed limit might appear to be the speed of light is because that limit actually represents the limit on what we can observe, since we are dependent on light for our observations and measurements. Might we not have confused the limit of what we can observe with the limit of how fast objects and energy may move in the universe. It was an exciting thought, to be able to correct Einstein. Such a ridiculous fool.



Dennis Overbye, "After Report on Speed, a Rush of Scrutiny" at The New York Times

Damon Poeter, "Boo! Hiss! Dutch Scientist Rains on Faster-Than-Light Neutrino Parade" at PCMag.com

Paul Rincon, "Faster-than-light neutrino experiment to be run again" at BBC

Faster than the Speed of Light?

Some weeks ago there was a stir in the news about the possible discovery of neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. There was not much acceptance in physics circles, as such a finding would overturn Einstein's conclusions that nothing in the universe can travel faster than the speed of light. Indeed, I think the findings have already been corrected, though the experiment will soon be rerun.

I mention it in passing only because I recall during my more intellectually ambitious and delusional youth playing with this idea of a cosmic speed limit. I had wondered if there might have been a fatal conceptual flaw unrealized until I saw it, that is, the reason why the cosmic speed limit might appear to be the speed of light is because that limit actually represents the limit on what we can observe, since we are dependent on light for our observations and measurements. Might we not have confused the limit of what we can observe with the limit of how fast objects and energy may move in the universe. It was an exciting thought, to be able to correct Einstein. Such a ridiculous fool.



Dennis Overbye, "After Report on Speed, a Rush of Scrutiny" at The New York Times

Damon Poeter, "Boo! Hiss! Dutch Scientist Rains on Faster-Than-Light Neutrino Parade" at PCMag.com

Paul Rincon, "Faster-than-light neutrino experiment to be run again" at BBC

Mr. Saturday Night

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Mr. Saturday Night

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