Faster than the speed of light...neutrinos.

[hafilax]

Skimmed the paper. Seems like they've been very thorough but it would surprise me if this result is repeated. I'm betting that there's an error in their calibrations or uncertainty estimates somewhere.

[Alaskan Rover]

Depends on the mass of neutrinos. They've been trying to derive the mass of neutrinos ever since neutrinos became a theoretical possibility...since they started filling caverns deep within the earth with ammonia in an effort to get a signature track.

There are those who think neutrinos are actually massless (which has NEVER made sense to me)...and a majority who believe they have a quantifiable mass, even if very near zero.

Supra-light speed is theoreically very possible if mass is negated from the equation...now, supra-light speed in a particle with a quantifiable MASS, that would be something.

I have never believed that the speed of light should be a limiting factor, even when I first read the theories as a young kid. I've always considered it more of an equation recifier.

I'm glad to see more people are starting to look beyond that aspect of relativity when pondering the mechanics of time...it's about time.

--

[Big Snowballs]

I have never believed that the speed of light should be a limiting factor, even when I first read the theories as a young kid. I've always considered it more of an equation recifier.

Impressive you figured that out at a young age.

[b dubya]

I knew it, light speed is weak

light speed too slow?!

[hafilax]

Neutrinos have been known to have mass for a while now.

[abraham]

Yeah, and even if they had a tiny mass it wouldnt really allow for greater than light speed velocities. I think the mass would have to be entirely removed from the equation to allow that. Of course that is using the current equations and the assumption that C is the greatest possible velocity.
Im not entirely sure about that, for having so little text einstein's paper cover a lot of ground. Ive been trying to understand both special and regular relativity for about a year since I decided to read the papers.

I suspect there may be calibration issues, though I did read that some physicists think the speeds may be proof of additional dimensions. Evry time something majr comes up I hear that so im skeptical.

how many other facilities can try to replicate this data? I think there is a detector in Japan, but is there a neutrino generating apparatus set up? or can they aim at other detectors from CERN? That makes sense to me since neutrinos are so unreactive but it may cost more to aim it again than rebuild somewhere else.

Hafilax- got a link to the paper, Id like to read it as well.

[lionelhutz]

So when can I expect the world to end because we misfired a few sub-atomic particles at hyper-light speed?

[hafilax]

Here's a link to the paper for those who are interested
http://arxiv.org/abs/1109.4897v1

SuperKamiodande would probably be the best candidate to test this but I believe they aren't running because of the tsunami. I think Fermilab have expressed interest in testing it. The Solar Neutrino Observatory in Sudbury, ONT appears to be down for upgrades.

The OPERA results will have to be repeated or bettered for this to stand. I'm sure the theorists will go crazy for a bit though.

[hutash]

Nothing travels faster than the speed of light with the possible exception of bad news, which obeys its own special laws.

D. Adams


You guys are thinking about this all wrong

[flyandski365]

D. Adams


You guys are thinking about this all wrong

I'm waiting until they come out with the improbability drive before I get excited.

Seriously though, this is pretty cool if true.

[Maximus Gradient]

light speed too slow?!

[Tippster]

They've gone to Plaid!

[Maximus Gradient]

^^Couldn't find a good enough pic of Lonestar and Barf, so the above had to suffice. Classic, nonetheless.

[Alaskan Rover]

T

Nothing travels faster than the speed of light, with the possible exception of bad news...that seems to have its own special laws that apply to it.

Now, if you replace 'bad news' with 'Gossip', you'd be right on the money.

[iscariot]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/st...ight-cern.html

So they're trying it again.

[Lonnie]

Whoops, we forgot to plug this thing in...

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-...ty-wiring.html

“According to sources familiar with the experiment, the 60 nanoseconds discrepancy appears to come from a bad connection between a fiber optic cable that connects to the GPS receiver used to correct the timing of the neutrinos’ flight and an electronic card in a computer,” Cartlidge reported

[MTT]

Whoops, we forgot to plug this thing in...

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-...ty-wiring.html

I read the same news today from other source, first thing I thought was, (Don't they even set bench marks)

Some really sloppy work.

Kinda scary this is the best and brightest?

[butterscotch]

^^^A little high and mighty, aren't we?

Having chased down my share of faulty cables, that's usually one of the last things that gets checked. And I can't imagine coordinating an experiment of that magnitude. That said, I would be pretty damn embarrassed if I was involved in this.

Also, xkcd nailed it:

[geomorph]

Shoulda stepped up to the Monster brand cables. I hear they're totally worth the extra dough.