Faster than the speed of light?

Posted by Olly Robinson on 10 March 2009 | 1 Comments

Tags: Physics

The constant speed of light, 186,000 miles per second, is the very keystone of modern physics. It is the c in Einstein's e=mc2, it is the an unbending solidity in a universe seemingly in perpetual flux and relative state. However, even this sacred bedrock of cosmology is now being challenged.

Joao Magueijo, a 40-year old Portuguese physicist who is now a professor at Imperial College, has put forth the heretical idea that in the very early days of the universe light traveled faster—an idea that if proven could dethrone Einstein and forever change our understanding of the universe.

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/01/faster-than-the.html

His book, Faster Than the Speed of Light? is a guide to this new theoretical approach, which if proved correct, could mean that once again science must be turned on its head to accomodate a new insight and a new paradigm for modern physics. If not, then how fantastic that the sacred cows of science can always be challenged, can always be overthrown.

Some say that the never-ending changing nature of science demonstrates that it cannot grasp fundamental truths, but rather only partial descriptions, or constructed explanations. Yet its never-ending pursuit of more accurate description and explanation may in fact be simply in line with what humans are able to grasp at any particular time. Science expands as our minds expand, and truth is revealed progressively, as we are ready for it.

I recommend this book highly - it is readable and mixes personal journey with the hard science of his argument.

Olly Robinson