This is really bothering me... (Physics)

[violet lightning]

A saw a good documentary last night on the orgins of the big bang and how different scientists theories competed for research funding and public favor.
One thing that I think pertains to recent discussion was this:
Sometimes a theory can be sound, but our technical ability to make measurements is limited. That is what changes over time. Our increasing ability to make more refined, more accurate and even hitherto impossible measurements.
Sometimes new data can further prove theories or complicate them or completely invalidate them if it conflicts with predicted outcomes.

Also, I seem to remember reading a while back that scientists had discovered particles or something previously unknown, that was traveling just ahead of light speed. Does that ring a bell with anyone?
I only mention it since the speed of light as the ultimate speed limit keeps being brought up. By all practical standards,(ie human space travel) it probably is, but that dosn't mean its the true absolute.

[Jenae LaTorque]

The particle you are talking about that travels faster than light is a tachyon which is only theoretical right now, just like wormholes.

[Tread]

The tachyon has got a imaginary mass. if it exists, it always have to be faster than the speed of light. It would be also invisible. I belief that they only exist hypothetical in math.
If they exist and you could use them to transport information, it would be possible to teleport matter faster then the speed of light. But that would contain huge problems. Teleportation works with Quantum mechanics. You need to have entangle Quantums on earth and where ever you want. You also need the technology at both places. And the original matter would get destroyed. That would be a huge risk.

The only ways to travel faster than light are:
to eliminate or reverse mass (impossible with normal matter).
find a shorter way than the light is traveling (but you are not faster than the speed of light)
or the easiest way breake the lightspeed. As far as I know the slowest lightspeed is about 61,2 km/hour, 38 miles/hour. (but that wouldn't help either)

[TracyCoxx]

Originally Posted by Rachel

That is physics as we know it Tracy.

Based on reality as we have observed. The same reality that any other alien race would observe as well.

Originally Posted by Rachel

However I do believe that in this vast universe there could be more intelligent beings then us. Maybe they have better science. When I say inflexible you show it. You believe in physics as an absolute.

I'm sure there is other life that's more intelligent than us. But I still doubt they can outdo the power of a gamma ray burst that's so powerful, it appears like it's a supernova in our galaxy, even though it's at the edge of the observable universe. Even that obeys the speed of light and other physics we're aware of.

The hypothetical more intelligent aliens may have figured out how to unify QM and relativity, but it still doesn't change the fact that you can't go faster than light.

And physics is an absolute. It works the same for everyone, anywhere in the universe.

Originally Posted by violet lightning

Also, I seem to remember reading a while back that scientists had discovered particles or something previously unknown, that was traveling just ahead of light speed. Does that ring a bell with anyone?

Is this what you're talking about?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/841690.stm

It still requires a medium for light to pass through to get this effect. There is no medium for aliens to travel through on the way to earth. Just mostly empty space.

[runround04]

My friend has a DeLoren that goes 88 mph... Just a little humor to ease the tension

[Rachel]

They used to say if man was meant to fly he would have been born with wings lol. And now look at us.

[crossingoceans]

I read somewhere on the internet about a device that, apparently can allow data to travel faster than speed of light, it also said that only microwaves can do this. It's still experimental but if they can perfect it, it's gonna be a huge milestone in technology. Specially to communicate with astronauts when they're in mission on other planets.

[Tread]

Originally Posted by Icekiller

I read somewhere on the internet about a device that, apparently can allow data to travel faster than speed of light, it also said that only microwaves can do this. It's still experimental but if they can perfect it, it's gonna be a huge milestone in technology. Specially to communicate with astronauts when they're in mission on other planets.

Never heared of that. Have you any links or verificationon this?
I can't belief that it is possible.

[crossingoceans]

Let me search for it. I read it on overclock.net but it seems like the thread was deleted...

EDIT: I found it, here it is

http://current.com/items/90301786_sc...t.htm?xid=ch60